FOR York to prosper and have homes for its residents, both Lib-Dem and Labour councillors need to start grasping the realities of the crisis facing this city.

At the recent Local Development Framework meeting, we had rare unanimity of concern over the large number of modern offices and other employment facilities that had been vacant for years on Clifton Moor.

Moreover, poor transport communications were identified - not just by me - as a major contributory factor in preventing employment development in this area. But, sadly, the concern quickly became as gridlocked as the ring-road traffic when it came to accepting there was an urgent need to upgrade this road.

Then, we moved on to future housing provision - yes, "affordable homes". These homes are desperately needed in York, but the current policy is producing 50 per cent of nothing and will drive many small building firms out of house building altogether.

Moreover, recommendations are being made that the shared equity' provision be abandoned altogether, so removing the first rung on the property ladder for many. This even contradicts Gordon Brown's "new" policy.

The solutions are easy - upgrade the ring road as soon as possible - if necessary get a study carried out to identify options for doing it.

Then, for housing, adopt recommendations to reduce the "affordable" target to 35 to 40 per cent, but secure that first rung on the housing ladder by rejecting their recommendation to abandon "shared equity" intermediate homes.

Coun Joe Watt, Conservative Member for Skelton, Rawcliffe and Clifton Without, The Village, Skelton, York.