IT is clear that D Spaven is unaware of his facts when he writes about Huntington (May 24).

New Lane was always designated Green Belt under the Local Plan produced by Ryedale District Council. This wedge was to protect urban sprawl up to the Monks Cross site.

Only when we joined City of York Council did the Labour Group take it out of the Green Belt because they did not want to see housing developments in their controlled areas.

If Mr Spaven drives through Huntington, he must do so with he eyes closed. New Lane is already experiencing a great increase in traffic due to traffic calming on Huntington Road and the congestion which is now a regular occurrence on Malton Road.

Huntington is built on clay and therefore has a major flooding problem, many houses have water underneath their floor boards and the drainage of the land is a very slow process.

Hedgerows, wild life and ancient sites are part of the New Lane make up.

Homes have not been lost; they will be part of the Eye of York Development.

Yes, the Green Belt Working Group made the decision to de-allocate New Lane. Thank God for common sense and the Lib Dems, they realised the allocation of development under the City of York Council Green Belt Review was unfair and unjust.

A further commercial development which will bring in 5,000 people and associated traffic, more commercial development and a hotel planned on north Monks Cross will add already to a creaking and groaning infrastructure.

Huntington is still bearing a greater brunt of the development than any other part of the city.

Peter G Richardson,

Merlin Covert,

Huntington, York.

Updated: 11:05 Monday, June 13, 2005