Further to my letter of September 4, I would like to elaborate the connection between domestic housing and the possible lowering of the water-table, which affects the stability of ancient buildings.

My previous letter suffered a justified cut.

I raise the questions:

Do newly weds, young families, mature families and pensioners all want the patch of land with a two-storey house, which so many builders are providing?

Are these dwellings bought because there is no alternative?

Do reluctant gardeners then pave their plots?

The le Corbusier idea of a vertical village has proved disastrous in its mis-application.

However, small blocks of raised apartments in landscaped surrounding could increase consumer choice and pre-empt a water table problem.

Crescents and squares of so-called town houses could be constructed; suburban variety is lacking just now.

Barbara G Whiting,

Heslington Lane,

Heslington,

York.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.