WHY is Councillor Tracey Simpson-Laing trying to defend the indefensible over York’s Local Plan (Letters, January 14)?

Scriptwriting for her administration’s approach, she says “we should... not persist in scare stories, wish lists and false hopes”. I say hear, hear to that.

The biggest scare story is that without a plan we are somehow at the mercy of developers. The truth is that we are no more vulnerable now than we have been for more than 50 years without one.

Her wish-list is a set of unrealistic economic targets. To suggest jobs will be provided for 30,000 people (75 per cent of whom will be international inward migrants), producing a building boom of some 20,000 houses before the year 2030, is outrageously optimistic.

Her false hopes? That York residents will accept the building of housing estates in the green belt without considering all feasible alternatives. Surely she understands York’s tourist economy relies on its internationally renowned heritage and special rural setting?

It is no scare story that a group of us are mounting planning and legal challenges over her wish lists. We are confident it is false hope that the current plan will pass the Planning Inspector’s scrutiny.

Allan Charlesworth, Old Earswick, York.