THANK YOU for your article on the huge losses and mismanagement by Broadacres and Mulberry Homes Yorkshire Ltd regarding the Leeming Bar and the Sowerby Gateway developments (Echo, Aug 11).

Members of STUFF, the local campaign group who predicted risks and other negative impacts in 2011, will not be surprised, but sadly, will feel vindicated.

At Hambleton District Council planning meetings, in the press and at parish level, we predicted problems that are now coming true, including traffic overload and hazards especially at Blakey Bridge, future amendments to agreed planning guidelines to remove requirement for 40 per cent social and affordable housing, unaffordability of the project; overruns of budgets, unfinished and blighted development, and loss of control of public money.

Now in its report, the authoritative Homes and Communities Agency talks of "serious failure", of the management not identifying the "risks involved", of its lack of "appropriate degree of skill, independence, diligence, effectiveness, prudence and foresight in relation to the management of its commercial activities and associated investments". It is a complete condemnation of mismanagement, and those responsible should be investigated by an independent body – not the council.

I call upon fellow residents and councillors, political parties and groups to write to the council and the agency calling for a full public inquiry into the mismanagement of Sowerby Gateway Project and the attendant loss to the public accounts of the reported £5.5m. Where did the money go?

Heads should roll.

Dr John Gibbins, Sowerby