I AM pleased that the immediate housing plans for Moor Lane in Woodthorpe have been dropped as part of Labour’s Local Plan rethink (The Press, September 12).

I have long worked with residents to oppose development on this site, and I am sure that the number of local people who objected through letters, emails and petitions helped bring this change about.

However, we cannot be complacent as developers will continue to fight to be allowed to develop this land. Labour’s latest proposal is to make the site “safeguarded land”. This means it will be set aside for possible development at a later date. I believe the site should be removed completely from the plan.

This site is unsuitable for housing for a number of reasons. It is adjacent to Askham Bog (a Site of Special Scientific Interest), green field land will be lost, and large-scale development would put extra pressure on local infrastructure such as roads and schools.

Only by listening to these concerns and removing Moor Lane from the plan completely can we be sure that long-term development is ruled out.

Cllr Ann Reid, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Dringhouses & Woodthorpe, Grassholme, Woodthorpe, York.