I MUST respond to Philip Crowe (Letters, October 15).

Our planning application for a traveller site at West Offices is neither foolish nor frivolous. It may be “tongue in cheek” but it raises serious questions. The council expects local communities to accept designated traveller sites, but will not consider one on its doorstep.

The planning process has been corrupted by an attempt to stop, on spurious grounds, a valid application being registered.

There is nothing in our submission which could be regarded by any reasonable person as advocating discrimination. Even if it did, there would be no breach of equalities legislation by the council simply complying with its obligations under the Town and Country Planning Acts to register a legitimate submission.

We are the authors of everything in our submission and we take full responsibility for it. Nothing falls on the council. We are not wasting the time of officers or members. We have paid the set fee for officials to deal with our submission and we are entitled to have it considered in the usual manner.

Sooner or later this planning application will be determined. If the council fails to do its duty the matter will be taken out of its hands. The decision will then be made by the Secretary of State or a planning inspector.

Matthew Laverack, Architect acting for Cllr Mark Warters, Lord Mayor’s Walk, York.