I welcome the Evening Press's article on the massive increase in the number of flats being built in York (Evening Press, August 11).

This is an issue Labour has been concerned with for some time and the council must recognise the serious implications of too much concentration on this type of development.

We all know there is a housing shortage in the city, but these new, generally one - or two-bedroomed - apartments will not answer our full range of housing needs.

I am worried about families who find these flats too small and too expensive. But I am also worried about the future. Generations of children may find themselves cooped up in high-rise flats without adequate amenity space or gardens for outdoor play.

Of course too many high-density apartment blocks in the city centre threaten the architectural character of our historic city - new buildings must be sensitively designed and on a human scale.

Labour worked to amend the Local Plan to ensure developments reflected local housing need - which means more affordable family housing.

The Lib Dems' planned amendments - to axe four key sites for new homes - mean the situation will only get worse and we will see more high-density apartments. Ruth Potter,

Labour spokesperson for

housing,

City of York Council,

Chaucer Street, York.

Updated: 09:56 Saturday, August 16, 2003