FAR from being "wallies", as Mr Berridge of the Civil Service Sports Club claims (Letters, November 10), when they rejected plans for a new sports complex, members of York's planning committee did exactly what the Liberal Democrat Party promised to do before it was elected last May - protect York's proposed green belt.

York citizens would have been extremely critical had they failed to keep this promise. They will expect councillors to continue to curb the feeding frenzy for green belt development, by rejecting plans to build housing estates on ancient wildflower meadows at Osbaldwick, and on open countryside at Germany Beck - areas proposed as green belt under the York Local Plan inquiry.

Imaginative planning of sports facilities already proposed elsewhere, plus better out-of-hours community use of educational sports assets, can provide ample sporting opportunities for youngsters without the loss of green belt land.

Mr Berridge should persuade Civil Service Sports Club Properties Ltd to stop pursuing get-rich-quick, green belt-breaching plans for commercial development of its existing sports ground on Boroughbridge Road. It should bring forward a more modest scheme to upgrade the present site and provide the facilities he wants, including a new bowling green.

Barry Potter,

Knapton Lane, York

Updated: 10:13 Thursday, November 27, 2003