I READ with interest the article 'Home zones could get £100,000' (July 17). The council officer inferred that the Harcourt Street pilot scheme had been abandoned, because it was felt the residents mistrusted what the council was trying to do. As a result, officers had taken a less prominent role and left the communication process for external consultants to carry out.

The situation whereby council officers feel they need to disengage from communicating with local people is unfortunate but one they have brought upon themselves. The local community has been at loggerheads with the council for the past 15 months about the redevelopment of the East Parade car park for a limited housing scheme.

During this time, the council has described the 30-odd year old facility as derelict land, ignored a petition of 720 signatures from local residents, traders and customers, ignored two Heworth ward committee votes against the development, ignored requests for a council officer to meet local people on site, and failed to turn up to talk to local people at a ward meeting when it had made a commitment to do so.

It is not surprising Heworth people mistrust the council, as its lack of communication and unwillingness to engage with local people is all too well apparent.

It is people's quality of life that is being affected and local people will be left with the future consequences of any action taken.

The issues have not gone away, and we would wish to engage in direct dialogue, rather than the stuttering process that we have come to experience.

Come on council, give us a call, you know where we live!

Mike Leonard,

East Parade,

Heworth, York.

Updated: 12:58 Friday, July 27, 2001