IT is heartening that York council's assistant director of planning confirmed new trees must be planted in the same place as the felled ones at Connaught Court, Fulford (Letters, October 7).

Will the council also insist that a 15-metre radius circle is left clear around each tree in any future development of the site?

This will be necessary to provide the replacement trees with room to grow and spread their boughs to the extent of the previous trees. Future generations will then be able to enjoy the full majesty of those trees as we have enjoyed the two we have lost.

If the developers are seen to gain in any way from having the trees cut down prematurely, I believe the citizens of York will be further outraged.

Neil Giltrap,

Fulford Park,

Fulford, York.

Updated: 10:22 Wednesday, October 13, 2004