THE prime purpose of the green belt is, as it has always been, to protect the human environment. Its ecological function enhances, but does not supersede, that purpose.

This is made clear in the Local Plan, and is endorsed by reports of the Planning Inspectorate.

The arguments put forward by Geoff Beacon (Scrap the city's green belt, August 19) are, therefore, inapplicable.

The green belt represents rich pickings for some, and has long been subject to insult and abuse.

The present plan for large car parks within designated green belt seems innocuous enough, but is, potentially, susceptible to planning creep.

A bail hostel may begin as no more than temporary accommodation for young tearaways, but becomes, in the course of time, housing for dangerous criminals.

One would need to walk around York blinkered not to be aware of the frenetic building programme of the past 20 years, and of the consequent loss of open space within the city. So far, priority has been given to prestige housing, offices and superstores.

Now that those lucrative requirements have been largely met, developers lament the lack of provision for the young and poor, for which they have hitherto shown no enthusiasm.

The fault lies with unjust planning laws which put the rights of developers before those of residents, or, as I would prefer to say, the rights of lobbyists before the rights of electors.

Unjust laws cry out for change. Perhaps readers who still have faith in our parliamentary system can suggest how this may be brought about?

William Dixon Smith,

Acomb,

Welland Rise, York.

...I WRITE in response to Mr White's comments about the proposal to build 54 houses/apartments on the land of the Connaught Court Nursing Home in Fulford, very close to the church (Anger over scheme to build 54 homes, August 13).

I was gob-smacked that Mr White, the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institute property director, believes such a development would be "ideal for the site".

I disagree. The proposal may be considered "ideal" from a purely mercenary point of view but it is obviously aimed at maximising the asset value of this picturesque area of Fulford by selling it off to private developers for high density blocks of flats and tall buildings.

I have chatted to some of the residents of Connaught Court and they are devastated at the idea of the beautiful grounds of their nursing home being sold off to developers.

The nursing home would become a small island in the middle of an enormous building site.

These elderly people moved to the home to live in peaceful surroundings with paths to walk between the trees and flowers. Now they are being badly let down.

Many are elderly and unable to write letters of objection to the council but, as Fulford residents, they have rights too.

This extensive over-development would affect the lives of everyone living in Fulford. Extra traffic congestion and loss of the green spaces would reduce our quality of life.

I hope the council decides the loss of the unique character of Fulford is too high a price to pay. I urge all people living in Fulford to write to the council to object. Your voice counts.

David Wilkinson,

Atcherley Close,

Fulford, York.

Updated: 10:18 Wednesday, September 01, 2004