THE Barbican development is against the council's local plan and its change of use does not satisfy the criteria laid down in this blueprint.

Therefore, I believe planning permission should not be granted.

An opinion by an estate agent of possible increases in property values is not, in our view, enough justification for dumping a well thought-out development strategy such as the Local Plan.

As for the comments by English Heritage, is this not similar to what they said about Coppergate?

Still, it is nice to know that some cosy consultation has taken place. Does the English Heritage spokesperson realise that there will be an ersatz tower, between 17 and 20 metres high, within spitting distance of our ancient city walls?

I have yet to meet a resident, or a user, of the Barbican who is in favour of this scheme.

The Barbican development is becoming a joke, does anyone seriously think that if the council was not involved in it as chief beneficiary, that such an application would have got as far as it has, considering the gross over-development and breach of the Local Plan?

EP Dickinson,

Anne Street,

York.

Updated: 10:07 Friday, March 26, 2004