ALONG with many others, I am concerned at the enormous impact of the proposed housing developments within the precious greenbelt area between Clifton Moor and Skelton village.

Driving into York along the A19 there is a sign outside Clifton Park sports fields announcing the development of a new clubhouse and changing facilities and detailing the necessary funding requirements It appears to me the best way to protect the city's green belt is to move all these sports facilities into the green belt.

The few buildings required would be more than compensated by the substantial and protected areas of cultured playing fields, access being provided by the adding of an additional spur to one of the existing roundabouts The vacant and valuable areas left behind could then be developed for housing needs and would be in a position of easy access to the city.

Such developments would have only a minimal impact on the ring road and would be within easy reach of existing educational, commercial and social establishments.

I am sure this exchange would be favourable to the developers, and substantial funds could then be donated to the sports clubs to assist the building and expansion of their facilities and pitches.

George Robinson, Manor Way, Rawcliffe, York.


* WITH reference to "Warming to the older generation" (The Press, January 11), may I suggest that the Stockholm Institute and Selby District Council do their bit to reduce the carbon footprint by stopping all the massive areas of development that are going on around our towns and cities.

I don't know how the Government, MPs, councils, planners and university vice-chancellors can sleep at night when all this development on greenfield/ green belt land, which they have allowed, is only going to make the CO2 emissions and the flooding problem worse.

It is a pity that John Grogan and Hugh Bayley didn't object to all the building is going to happen in York. Maybe those are the 45 to 50-year-olds they should be targeting.

Sally Hawkswell, Heslington, York.