Does anyone remember this book?

[contortionist]

A book for youngish children with simple line drawings about a man living idyllically on a tiny island which then has a bridge built, joining it to the mainland and bringing development and environmental degradation. It was a favourite of mine 30+ years ago. Ringing ny bells with anyone?

Was it part of a collection of stories? It does ring a bell with me, but not more than that.

I think so - was there a seagull involved?

Jonathan Livingstone is the seagull book.

It's not Jonathan Livingston Seagull that I'm thinking of. The one I can half-remember had the man regretting building the road as everyone tried to cram onto the island. The format of the book was quite small.

Yes - a seagull! (But not the Livingstone one)

I've spent the last hour googling to no avail! I remember a picture of the island with chimneys belching out smoke.