THE University of York has for a long time, and continues to do so, altered the fabric of living in our city’s eastern suburbs (The Press, December 28).

Because the university expected and was allowed to have the accommodation needed for its continual expansion of student numbers provided by the private housing stock, local residents have dramatically reduced in number, which has led to school closures.

The university should have been made to provide accommodation on site. The new Derwenthorpe development should help sustain the local schools.

One further point in the article is interesting. The outgoing head teacher bemoans family homes being bought for students, thus changing family life in the area, but then says she will spend part of her retirement at her second home in France.

I do hope that family life in this part of France has not been dramatically altered by too many foreigners buying holiday homes there.

Geoff Robb, Hunters Close, Dunnington.