I WAS disappointed with York's final Without Walls document.

By its form and terminology it appears to have been prepared by town planners, not really ideal candidates to produce what should have been the forerunner of the community plan the local strategic partnership is expected to produce.

The main focus of the document appears to be that York should grow substantially - more than that envisaged in the present Local Plan which is considered contentious in its own right.

Such growth has been seen during recent years in Leeds which is often proposed as a model for York.

But anybody who has lived in Leeds has also witnessed the widening gap between the "haves" and "have-nots", along with an escalation in violence and drug-taking.

Do we really want such improvements?

One comment within Gary Craig's report which is appended to the document is that sustainable local industry is only likely to come through training and home-grown employment.

This contradicts the inward investment focus of the city council and the report. Mr Craig's anti-poverty strategy is perhaps the redeeming part of the report and much could be improved in the city if this were to be acted upon.

Mick Phythian,

Chair,

York Natural Environment Trust,

Monkton Road, York.

...YOUR article on the report "A new vision for York" (March 20) states: "York's green spaces should be protected and enhanced and better design standards should be required for new developments in the city" and "York's citizens consider better public transport and a bus station to be a priority".

The simple solution is to abandon the plans for Shoppergate II, build a park on the Castle site and a new bus station on Piccadilly.

Sadly, our planners are lacking in such vision.

Dave Berkeley,

Tower Place, York.

Updated: 10:31 Wednesday, March 26, 2003