PETER G Richardson is deceiving himself (Letters, May 13) and others when he attacks Derwenthorpe protesters by accusing the Labour group of being responsible for the 182 apartments and 11 houses at Birch Park.

In reality, it was his friends, the Liberal Democrats on Huntington Parish Council, who withdrew their objections along with the same group then in charge of the city council who approved the planning application without any fuss.

The planning application was processed and approved by Liberal Democrats.

Rather than being so partisan, as I told his parish council at the time, we needed all the citizens of York to be aware of the role both parties have played in the unplanned growth of the city by failing to establish a local plan and policies for a sustainable York.

Now we have divide and rule and, as long as it continues, the city will continue to be chewed away at by developers.

A number of parish councils have taken positive action by taking an interest in the York Open Planning Forum and York Natural Environment Trust, both groups which view the city as a whole.

Mick Phythian,

Chair, York Natural Environment Trust,

Monkton Road,

York.

Updated: 09:44 Tuesday, May 17, 2005