IN his attempt to defend the indefensible position of the Osbaldwick councillor, Coun Morley, colleague Coun Lancelott indulges in a letter of pure fantasy (February 18).

Coun Morley has spent the last five years refusing to speak up for his constituents regarding the 'Disasterthorpe' planning application because of his position on the planning committee - a position he was attempting to wriggle out of last December and one which he subsequently gave up on the flimsiest of pretexts at the farcical planning meeting on January 31.

Coun Morley's deputy at that meeting voted for the scheme - as did all the other Lib Dem councillors - on strict party lines demonstrating once again the political influences that shame the planning process.

The only councillor to emerge with his integrity intact was the Green Party's Andy D'Argone who called for a public inquiry, a motion all the other councillors were too afraid to support.

His stance contrasts with that of the Osbaldwick councillor who now refuses to support the people he purports to represent in their call for a public inquiry into the Disasterthorpe fiasco.

In the absence of an adopted local plan, it is the democratic right of the people to have such a contentious scheme subject to an independent public inquiry.

Strangely, I find myself in full support of Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) chairman Lord Best when he said on May 7 last year: "The benefit of a public inquiry, as perceived by JRF, would be the opportunity for an independent review giving an open examination of the partnership and the proposals addressing all the concerns, mistrust and suspicions that had been generated as a result of the council owning the land and JRF being a preferred partner."

Couldn't put it better myself.

M Warters,

Yew Tree Mews,

Osbaldwick, York.

Updated: 09:20 Friday, February 25, 2005