THE recent judicial ruling that a City of York planning decision was invalid for lack of an environmental impact assessment is probably only the tip of the iceberg. My belief is from the lack of vision I see in the following example.

On April 12, the council hosted its first review of the city's Local Agenda 21, the commitment to making the earth a sustainable place to live and work. Guess where they held it? On a river cruise up and down the Ouse!

A very pleasant place for all those speeches, but in terms of sustainability it must rank with everybody driving round the city in their cars and conferencing on their mobile phones.

River cruises are great for tourists but one questions the diesel smoke and fuel entering the local environment as part of Agenda 21.

The council claims to be very good at looking at the financial impact of issues. Can they start looking at the environmental impact of some of the things they permit?

Mick Phythian,

Chair,

York Natural Environment Trust,

Monkton Road, York.

Updated: 10:08 Thursday, May 02, 2002