I FEEL I should reply to Mrs G Evans's silly, and ill-informed, letter regarding the proposed university expansion (April 5).

I have good reason to be thankful for the university for employment, after being made redundant twice elsewhere.

To maintain its high international standing, for teaching and research, York University has to expand.

This will provide much-needed employment which is important given the recent demise of Terry's and the Selby coalfield, and the growing importance of York as a global bioscience centre.

There is a new medical school at the university, designed to equip new doctors for service in the local community. That is in addition to a well-established nurse training programme. It is envisaged that dentistry will be added when Campus East becomes operative.

I should point out to Mrs Evans that there are no footpaths or bridleways in the area of expansion proposed so, if she wishes to walk with her dogs and children and see the grazing horses, she will have to stop at the top of University Road, at the west end of campus, and walk down Low Moor, which I presume will be still there for a good few years to come.

Equally, there is more wildlife on campus - and I don't mean the students - than you can shake a stick at.

I do feel sympathetic to Sally and Brian Hawkswell who should be compensated if the development goes ahead.

While I have my gripes about the university, I do feel that its continuing expansion is for the benefit of the city.

Steve Bell,

St Paul's Terrace, York.

Updated: 11:14 Saturday, April 09, 2005