I AM amazed and disappointed with the proposals of the City of York Council for the development of the Oaken Grove School site.

The site has a central position in Haxby, as well as being adjacent to the Memorial Hall, shopping areas and bus routes providing easy access to all members of the community. As such, it offers a jewel that should not be forfeited for the sake of a financial fix from land sale values for housing projects.

The area is woefully short of suitable buildings to accommodate the many local interest/activity groups. It also lacks adequate housing for a larger library, a possible Citizens Advice clinic, or even a local police station.

The proposals indicate purely cost-related options and miss the bigger picture for an imaginative use of the land for future generations.

Furthermore, the suggestion that building work must commence as soon as the school closes in July 2002 in order to avoid vandalism seems both intimidating and panicky. Buildings can be made secure and vandal-proof and has anyone considered security patrols?

Time needs to be provided for a considered and comprehensive consultation process and should not be hindered by artificial time constraints.

P W McKenna,

Oaken Grove,

Haxby, York

Updated: 10:26 Tuesday, December 04, 2001