YOUR article on the future of Victoria Park underestimates the number of people who consider this land to be a village green (May 1).

Hundreds of us enjoy the use of this green, open land and have done so for years. We need to protect our green open spaces. As for the park becoming a site for a school, it is absolutely inappropriate. The councillor trying to promote this scheme failed to mention the land is liable to flooding.

The Environment Agency insist that if the school were to be built, it would have to constructed on a raised bank to protect it from flood waters. In the event of a major flood this could have dangerous consequences for those who live in the surrounding area. It will cause water levels to rise.

It is the duty of all who live in homes liable to flooding to oppose environmentally disastrous schemes such as this.

Curiously, your article also fails to mention that the proposed school is to be built on the site of an old toxic dump.

The construction will disturb the site and could result in the release of toxic materials into the River Ouse. Floods and toxic dumps - it doesn't sound like a good place for a school does it? This proposed development is yet another in a long line of rushed, ill thought out schemes which work against our environment rather than with it.

Dorothy Dawson,

Sycamore Terrace, York.

...LEEMAN Road needs a new school not a village green. We have fought for a long time to get this school then, suddenly when it is about to be a reality, the plot changes regarding the land that would be used.

It was never anything near a village green. It was a large refuge tip where you would be fined ten shillings for riding a bike there.

Now it seems we have horse riders. The only horses to my knowledge came when the travellers planted themselves or the donkey derby we once held.

Let's hope common sense prevails and we get our school.

Mrs I Storey,

L.E.A.F. Member,

Stamford St West,

Leeman Road, York.

Updated: 11:27 Friday, May 07, 2004