WHILE I understand and even sympathise with the concerns raised by the residents of Meadlands and Osbaldwick about the proposed Derwenthorpe development, there are larger concerns at stake than increased traffic volumes, noise, etc.

To many disabled people, such as myself, this development offers the best chance of finding a suitable home to enable me to live an independent life.

The trust's plans to ensure a number of homes in Derwenthorpe are designed with wheelchair-users in mind offer hope to many such as me and my family who struggle on in a wholly unsuitable council property City of York Council determined cannot be adapted because of the limitations of the annual budget.

I ask the protesters to consider the housing needs of others such as myself who, sometimes, are in greater need.

Mrs Jacqueline Taylor,

Tennent Road, York.

...LORD Best, director of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, says there has been little to consult on during the wait to hear the planning application for Derwenthorpe (April 23).

I disagree.

The planning application has been delayed because of concerns about flooding and drainage. There are problems with road safety issues on some access roads.

The foundation has received less funding than it expected and it has only been possible to agree the removal of one row of pylons from the site and the compulsory purchase order for Fifth Avenue has not been resolved.

No agreement has been reached with the National Grid nor the owners of Grid Cottage to sell the parts of the site they own, part of which could be classed as one of interest to nature conservation and so should not be built on. The time delays and increasing costs are making the project not financially viable.

Although Lord Best is correct when he says communications have broken down, we have not been told how much trouble Derwenthorpe is in.

It is time for Joseph Rowntree Foundation to take stock of the project, retain the site as a nature reserve (Rowntree Park II) and look for a more appropriate development area elsewhere.

A Wilson,

Temple Avenue Area Residents' Association,

Grasmere Drive, York.

Updated: 10:34 Thursday, April 29, 2004