PERSIMMON were “unable” to provide the promised 12 units of social housing on the Feethams site in Darlington, instead selling them on the open market.

They had their excuses ready of course.

On Friday we learnt that the chief executive of Persimmon has been awarded a £100m bonus and that the chairman has resigned in the subsequent row.

It is galling to me that this company seems, to ordinary residents, to have reneged on its commitment to build social housing here in Darlington, while rewarding its top executives with what has rightly been called obscene bonuses.

I look forward to our council doing a tougher job in future negotiations with such companies, but I am not hopeful.

A Bailey, Darlington