REGARDING your article 'Sports ground plan for village' (February 15), the development control officer, Richard Graham, is quoted as having recommended the ground saying "it satisfied a clear need for sports provision in rural communities south of York". He added "the ground would not be an unsuitable development on green belt land."

It is most definitely unsuitable on this particular piece of green belt land. It is part of the planning authority's remit to assess the impact on the lifestyles of residents living in the immediate vicinity of proposed planning projects. Here lies the small rural community of Mount Pleasant, about 200 homes. Many of the residents are retired or semi-retired.

They chose to live here for peace and tranquillity, not to have the noise and traffic of our neighbouring village's football teams thrust upon us.

There is overwhelming opposition to this proposal in our community. Within the same radial area from Bishopthorpe to the proposed project at Acaster Malbis there are dozens of football pitches, on Knavesmire and along Simbalk Lane.

Mr Graham's department was responsible for invalidating their own original public notice by putting the wrong location on it, leaving us only days to object.

Furthermore, for the second time in as many years, his department "lost" Mount Pleasant and its community in administrative affairs.

AE Woodfield,

Cundall Drive,

Mount Pleasant,

Acaster Malbis,

York.

Updated: 09:16 Friday, February 25, 2005