ENVIRONMENT groups in York have issued a damning critique on a report looking at the city in 20 years time.

The Environment Forum has attacked the Joseph Rowntree Foundation-commissioned report Vision For York document, ironically claiming that it lacked vision.

It was presenting its views to the Without Walls board tonight claiming it focuses on development without "any comprehensive, realistic appraisal of its impact on the environment or on the quality of life for communities of York".

Chairwoman Laura Potts said the forum had come to the conclusion that the report, written by the Urban and Economic Development Group (URBED), "lacks a holistic, cohesive approach to the full and complex range of issues which are broadly environmental, and fails to inspire due to its lack of substance and, ironically, vision."

The forum highlighted issues it considered were missing from the York Vision, including consideration of the widening gap between rich and poor, the lack of recognition of the value of York's environment and the impact future decisions would have on the wider community.

The forum is pressing for social, economic and environment issues to be considered equally and is willing to suggest ways that could be achieved.

Ms Potts said: "We already have many useful tools that we can use to guide developing the city in sustainable ways, such as the Local Agenda 21 Strategy that many people in the city helped develop, and the Eco-Footprint method of appraising the effect of changes. We urge the Without Walls Board to consider undertaking a full appraisal of the city's overall economic, environmental and social capital before taking the URBED proposals forward."

The criticisms come as the Without Walls Festival of Ideas moves up another gear this week with the fourth 'hot topic' debate.

"Why should York want to become a world-class science city?" is the subject for discussion at the Tempest Anderson Hall, in Museum Gardens, today, from 7pm until 9pm.

Organised by Science City York, the event - which is free to enter - will focus on the economic potential of York's world-class science base.

Updated: 10:27 Wednesday, July 23, 2003