WE all need green open spaces. They’re places to walk the dog, get some fresh air, or play a game of cricket or football with the children.

In cities, such green spaces are often in short supply. York, with its ings and green ‘corridors’ reaching into the city centre, generally isn’t too badly off.

But there are some parts of the city, Acomb among them, where there’s a real shortage of open areas.

School playing fields traditionally operate as ‘green lungs’.

But the extensive playing fields attached to the old Manor School site between Boroughbridge Road and the railway tracks have been unused and surrounded by ‘no entry’ signs since the school moved in 2009.

This seems nonsensical given the lack of public open spaces in the area.

Now local Labour councillor Stuart Barnes wants part of the playing fields to be developed as a proper community space.

“I often hear from people...that they or their kids are fed up at the lack of parks, open spaces and leisure facilities that are enjoyed by residents in other parts of the city,” he said.

We think he has a point. If and when the massive British Sugar site nearby ever gets redeveloped, there will be a huge increase in housing in the area.

If Acomb is short of green space now, it will be much more so then.

Setting aside part of these playing fields would seem to be a very sensible solution.