IN HIS thinly veiled appeal to readers of all political persuasion (Letters, March 25), it is unsurprising that Mervyn Jones, chief executive of the developer Yorkshire Housing, is calling for ‘action’ on the proclaimed housing shortfall in our region.

Let’s not skirt around the issue: Mr Jones is talking about York’s local plan.

The most concerning part of his letter is that he focuses on the proclaimed shortfall “in our region” of 200,000 homes by 2031.

York does need a local plan and we will need more houses, some 11,000 more by 2030 according to new government figures. This is a far cry from Labour’s initial proposals which were in excess of 22,000 homes, with massive developments on the green belt which are still in play.

We need a local plan which is right for York not one which seeks to accommodate the needs of ‘the region’ and not based on an aspiration to grow, but the needs of the city and its residents.

We live in a uniquely beautiful cathedral city, and we must resist developers and politicians at every turn who seek to hastily progress a plan which will ruin it.

Sam Lisle, Conservative council candidate Rawcliffe and Clifton Without, Cygnet Street, York.