MR CARRADICE wrote regarding the provision of a community centre on part of the former Danebury Drive allotment site (November 8).

The council has agreed to build 20 three-bedroomed homes on part of the site. This will help to ease the problem of homeless families in the city.

It is revealing that Mr Carradice, a former Labour councillor, does not apparently consider this to be sufficient justification in itself for him to agree to move his allotment to a new, more secure location.

In addition, the council executive agreed "that no action be taken at the present time on the proposed feasibility study (for a community centre) but that if such a proposal were demonstrated in the future to have local community support and a realistic funding capability, then the matter be pursued within the normal ward committee and/or housing revenue account estate improvement budget allocation".

This was prompted in part by the recommendation a few days earlier of Labour's shadow executive, which includes the two Acomb ward councillors.

This expressed concern that "local ward members and residents have not yet been asked for their views on these proposals" and added that the executive "would expect them to be involved in the ongoing feasibility study". It also recommended that "the decision on these proposals be deferred pending consultation with ward members and residents".

The door is not closed firmly on the idea of providing additional community facilities here or anywhere else in the city. However, it must be borne in mind that the Labour Government regards the provision of such facilities as "discretionary" and hence as being of a "low budget priority".

Supporters will need to demonstrate both the need and the financial practicality of any proposals.

Coun Susan Galloway,

Executive member for social services & health,

Stirrup Close,

Ainsty Park,

York.

Updated: 10:19 Tuesday, November 16, 2004