I WOULD like to reply to Peter Richardson, clerk to Huntington Parish Council, and the comments he made about me (Letters, October 4).

If he wishes to "point the finger" in relation to "sky-high buildings" then he should look to the Liberal Democrat councillors.

Their insistence in the Local Plan that 3,000 housing units will be provided on York Central by 2011 are at the very least ambitious.

What this is leading to is more high-rise developments because of land shortage.

If Mr Richardson cares to check minutes of meetings, and comments made in this publication, he will note that I have again and again spoke out against high-rise buildings on accessibility issues, amenity and their effect on views in York.

This is one reason why I wish to see a supplementary planning guidance on "Design For Living" that the Liberal Democrat council refused to agree to last week.

I ask Mr Richardson to check who voted for the high-rise Barbican development, not Labour, the Greens or Independent, but the Liberal Democrat councillors.

In relation to congestion, traffic calming in this city has seen a significant reduction in the numbers of people killed and seriously injured, particularly children and older people.

And Labour are proudly responsible for the Park & Ride schemes that keep two million car journeys out of the city per year.

Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing,

Labour spokesperson for planning & transport,

Salisbury Road,

Leeman Road,

York.

Updated: 10:30 Thursday, October 07, 2004