THE chair of Fulford parish council has said I must “understand that the judicial review process exists so that public authorities can be called to account if they make unlawful or irrational decisions” after I welcomed a Government announcement to curb consecutive legal challenges to developments such as Germany Beck (We’re badly served, March 5).

I said: “Due process should be followed and people should have the right to appeal, but legal challenges one after the other must end” (York council leader backs legal plans, February 6).

A planning application for much-needed new homes at Germany Beck was submitted as far back as 2001, permission was granted in 2005 and a public inquiry took place in 2007. This occurred under a previous council administration and before my time as a councillor.

While consecutive legal challenges try to delay the development, the community loses out on having a constructive dialogue with developers to ensure the community’s need for infrastructure is acted upon.

Residents also pay for the privilege of these legal challenges in their council tax contributions to the parish council. I do not believe the decisions made by my predecessors were unlawful or irrational and the courts have showed this to be the case time and time again.

Coun James Alexander, Labour Leader of City of York Council.