FURTHER to your coverage (The Press, June 26), along with other ward councillors I was indeed briefed about the closure and sale of Willow House back in the autumn, particularly the process of finding new homes for existing residents.

I raised the inclusion of the open space land at Walmgate Bar at executive on November 24 but received no satisfactory answer.

In response to my further enquiries I understand the matter was raised several times with the council department responsible for the sale itself.

But no further consultation followed as to whether this land should be included in the sale.

While the capital receipt from the sale of the property will hopefully benefit York residents in future through helping to provide more extra care accommodation, this doesn’t mean that the future well-being of York residents living in the vicinity of Willow House should be overlooked.

The council can be congratulated on taking an innovative approach to consulting with residents at an early stage in the Castle Gateway Project.

We need more of this kind of thinking, so that departments work together pro-actively, consult ward councillors and consider the consequences of their decisions for all residents.

Cllr Denise Craghill, Guildhall Ward, Broadway West, York