WHAT a thoughtful, sensible editorial comment "Brownfield homes first" (May 26). I fully agree that with regard to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation's "Disasterthorpe" housing scheme, there are serious questions to be asked about the environmental assessments already carried out.

If protected species such as great crested newts and water voles can be conveniently overlooked by the developers the question then is, what else has been missed?

As with all surveys carried out to support this unpopular scheme they have been contrived to produce acceptable results for the developers, JRF. If the Dodo had re-established breeding colonies they too would have been disregarded.

I call upon City of York Council leader Steve Galloway and Lord Best of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation to announce the scrapping of plans to destroy this 53- acre site of national environmental importance.

Instead, take the Derwenthorpe plans, expand them and jointly work towards creating a sustainable, sensible new community on the 3,000-home site at York central.

Mark Warters,

Yew Tree Mews,

Osbaldwick, York.

Updated: 10:09 Tuesday, June 01, 2004