YET again, due to a political debacle, York remains without a Local Plan since the last agreed one in 1956.

Trying to attack any party or individual over this is ludicrous, since every denomination has made attempts and failed.

Lacking a Local Plan allows developers and builders to put in applications that exceed responsible quotas, don’t have acceptable designs or put in proposals to build where they think fit. The recent withdrawal of the plan in Harrogate demonstrates this.

What worries me as an environmentalist is that after much persuasion York had attempted to pursue a plan that created green corridors and gave some protection to the green belt, but in the current situation the entire green belt is under threat, whether of ecological value or not.

As a trust, we have reminded officers and members of all hues that York is largely rural, it has farms that produce food, along with hosting a number of valuable green sites, while some of that green space due to intense agricultural methods is probably of a lesser value, where it’s not part of a green corridor. Let’s look at this sensibly.

So can you all keep your rattles quiet, get your toys back in your prams and think about what is special around York.

The Local Plan wasn’t perfect, but let’s get it finished.

Dr Mick Phythian, Treasurer, York Natural Environment Trust, Monkton Road, York.