I THOUGHT it would be helpful to reassure readers the Joseph Rowntree Foundation will continue to progress its interest in Derwenthorpe in a sustainable way.

A case in point is the appearance of two female great crested newts on the Derwenthorpe site.

I can confirm that if our project for a model community on this land gets the go-ahead, we will be creating an environment for these creatures that is considerably better than the present one.

The conditions on this part of the site are unsatisfactory for sustaining the lives of these newts, with loss of breeding ponds being a primary cause of their decline. Incidentally, although the great crested newt is threatened in several European countries it is still widespread in Britain. Great crested newts are Britain's largest native newt species and can live for 27 years.

But numbers have been declining over recent decades and we propose to create a good environment for them, including ponds that will be managed and maintained, if our plans proceed.

Nigel Ingram,

Director of Development and Property Services,

Joseph Rowntree Foundation,

The Homestead,

Water End, York.

Updated: 11:17 Wednesday, July 28, 2004