M WARTERS has got it wrong about the Osbaldwick development ("Dump Osbaldwick plan in dustbin of history", Letters, May 9). His claim that York's former Labour council "conceived the plan" is factually incorrect.

The site at Osbaldwick was allocated for housing by Ryedale District Council, and agreed by Government inspectors before City of York Council took over responsibility for this area.

Furthermore, the New Osbaldwick Committee, which has worked on this proposal, is a partnership of the local community, the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust, local ward members and housing spokespersons from both the Labour and Liberal Democrat groups.

It has received cross-party support.

However, it is correct to say that Labour worked to take this development forward as a response to the very "needs of York residents" that M Warters claims to be concerned about.

We all know there is a shortage of affordable housing here in York.

With more than 4,000 York citizens on housing waiting lists, doing nothing is not an option.

Labour believes New Osbaldwick offers the chance to provide much-needed housing in a carefully thought-out development that will balance well-designed homes with ample green space and shared areas.

Coun Ruth Potter,

Labour spokesperson for housing,

Chaucer Street, York.

Updated: 10:23 Friday, May 16, 2003