LIBERAL Democrat Councillors across the city have been fighting to protect the green belt from development for many years.

They have been doing this because local residents have consistently and strongly told us they do not want to see development on the green belt.

Therefore I was very disappointed to hear Coun Merrett and the Labour group to be so dismissive of these views at last week’s council meeting.

To describe the local residents who want to protect York’s setting as NIMBYs is unacceptable.

I was also surprised to hear Coun Merrett say the views of local people should be ignored in order to allow development and keep businesses happy, not something I would expect to hear from a Labour councillor.

Councillors are elected to represent the views of local people and if there is one thing that the residents of York have been very clear about it is the need to protect the city’s setting.

I am sure residents will be very concerned to hear about Labour’s plan to open up the green belt for development and will be especially unhappy that Labour seem to be so dismissive of their concerns.

Coun Nigel Ayre, Liberal Democrat Heworth Without, Galtres Road, Heworth, York.