WHILE one is grateful more homes are to be built to regenerate the building industry, giving employment and housing for families in need, may I be so bold as to remind City of York Council's planning department that large-scale development in past years, even in the 1950s and 1960s in many inner cities, brought many problems in its wake.

Having lived and worked within an inner city over many years, estates were constructed reminiscent of a concrete jungle and to many law-abiding citizens a prison within a prison. They were void of any open spaces, play areas and community facilities except for a few shops that became vandalised and closed down.

These high-rise flats became a haven for drug barons and a high intensity of antisocial behaviour and criminal activity.

Two home beat police officers became instituted to deal with a rising crime rate and civil disputes including escorting GPs and other medical services especially at night. A lesson to be learned by all.

Kenneth Bowker, Vesper Walk, Huntington, York.