WHO'D have thought that politics could get in the way of progress?

Plans to build eight new council flats in Westfield have been temporarily halted in what is turning into yet another ugly political spat in York.

The city's new Conservative- Liberal Democrat administration claims the project at Newbury Avenue has been halted to allow more time for consultation.

But furious Labour councillors say about £117,000 has already been spent on surveys, design work and planning applications - money that will be wasted if the scheme is halted now.

Labour claims the project has only been suspended to placate the Liberal Democrat ward councillor Andrew Waller.

He has hit back by accusing the Labour group - in control when the building plans were first drawn up - of ignoring the views of residents.

Of course, with any major development it is important that the views of locals are heard.

But we would hope that this had been done before the scheme was allowed to reach this stage.

What is certain is that York desperately needs affordable homes. And the council does seem to have invested too much in this project to back out now.

So why the further delay?

Over the next few months, we are likely to see more and more projects begun under Labour revised or halted by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.

Ambitious plans to turn the Guildhall into a digital arts centre are already being reviewed - and much of the work that Labour put into its draft local plan is also likely to be pulled to pieces.

It is natural that a new administration will want to rethink policy.

But the constant political tit-for-tat in York is proving costly and wasteful - and many people are growing very tired of it.