City of York Council has decided to dispose of land next to St Barnabas church for the new St Barnabas School. Three people, including myself, spoke at the meeting to object and the points we made were summarily ignored by committee members.

Despite the council's claim that consideration was given to the views of local residents expressed in 101 objection letters, there was no discussion about any of the issues raised.

Victoria Park is an attractive and peaceful open space in the Leeman Road area that forms part of the Ouse corridor and the character of York.

None of the people who are opposed to development on this site have been against a new school for this community; we have merely suggested that more appropriate sites are available, such as York Central.

Time and again our voices have been ignored by a council elected to represent the interests of all York residents. More worrying still, Government guidelines regarding development on open space, and indeed City of York Council's own local plan, have also been ignored.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those people from the Leeman Road area, and across York, who have supported us in our efforts to try to ensure a more suitable location was found for the school.

One that would have served to provide this community with improved educational facilities, but at the same time preserve a beautiful area of open space.

Kate Youngjohns,

Stephenson Way,

Leeman Road, York.

Updated: 11:15 Wednesday, July 28, 2004