As a Local Plan working group member, I wish to dispel a couple of myths which seem to be doing the rounds, especially regarding the meeting of April 24.

Despite Coun Watt’s (very) early exit from the meeting, the other two hours of the meeting were amicable with good cross-party working.

Despite the extreme rhetoric being thrown around about a perceived “stitch-up”, I counted some 35 points made by opposition councillors that were welcomed and taken on board by officers in preparing their draft for cabinet consideration.

I was saddened Coun Watt felt the need to leave the meeting so early, thus passing over the chance to represent the residents of his ward at this first of several opportunities, where opposition councillors can speak on the Local Plan proposals.

Then there’s the myth about a wholesale destruction of green belt land. In fact, only 1.8 per cent of the green belt is proposed to be used within the plan, while the rest will be protected from development for at least two decades to come.

What we gain are homes for future generations of York residents. That's a good deal for the long-term prosperity of the city.

Coun Neil Barnes Labour, Hull Road ward, City of York Council.
 

• BY SETTING unachievable housing targets it is Labour councillors who are burying their heads (The Press, April 23).

Labour wants 1,090 extra houses a year, but York is only building 200 to 300. The city’s population has grown by about one per cent a year in the past decade.

This growth means a need to build about 400 additional houses each year. 600 when you tackle issues such as overcrowding.

Labour’s plans are based on fanciful growth projections and it is unclear whether they would be approved by the Government.

While Coun Dave Merrett says he wants to maximise brownfield sites before using green belt sites, his Local Plan does not match his rhetoric.

Housing quotas at York Central, British Sugar and the Barbican site have all actually been reduced from previous plans.

I also don’t think residents in areas such as Haxby, Woodthorpe, Heworth Without and Dunnington would appreciate his comments that planned developments “avoid areas important to the historic character and setting of York”.

The villages, communities and green landscape of York help to make the city what it is.

Labour needs to rethink its plans, listen to residents and come up with realistic proposals.

Coun Carol Runciman, Leader of the Liberal Democrat group, Earswick Chase, York.