PILCHER Homes' determination to submit new plans for development of the site at 26/28 Tadcaster Road with the same traffic requirement as before (January 28) is misguided and is based on deliberately ignoring the changed traffic situation down the years at this difficult road junction.

Both they and the council traffic officers seem only to consider that because there are 14 garages on the site this must now still give them the right to the same traffic volume for any new development.

The fact that the garages have been out of use, except as storage sheds, for many years and that traffic in the area has changed beyond recognition in that time appear to be conveniently forgotten.

Traffic has at least doubled since the garages were built tens of years ago.

Bus traffic in particular is, happily, much greater than ever. The busy and well used No 4 service runs every few minutes and other services also frequently use the stop near the proposed access to the development.

When pressed on these aspects at the inquiry, at which I was present, the traffic officer failed to comment except to repeat the "14 garages" mantra.

The councillors understood the situation much better, some having experienced the difficulties in their daily travels, and were able to bring reality into their deliberations.

Let's hope they continue to do so at any future inquiry.

Michael Bailey,

Ainsty Grove, York.

Updated: 10:38 Tuesday, February 08, 2005