I ATTENDED the planning committee meeting hoping for a positive response for approval to be given for the new Civil Service sports £7 million complex, which was to include an outdoor bowling green. How wrong I was.

The people of York should now know what a "bunch of old wallies" we have on this committee.

Three pathetic excuses were made against this plan taking off:

1. It would affect the view to York Minster from the roundabout (people should be concentrating on driving, not looking for views)

2. It would encroach on the green belt (would they rather have the travellers back with their caravans?)

3. Transport issues. (These would not be a problem because a large car park was planned.)

So our future up-and-coming youngsters have been deprived of a marvellous complex, and the older ones could have benefited rather than congregating on the streets with nothing to do.

Before throwing this out they should have taken a bus trip to Nottingham and looked at the complex there which was buzzing with youngsters, mothers, fathers and older citizens all partaking in their sport and gymnasium activities when I bowled there in September.

I hope the committee's children and grandchildren have given them the stick they thoroughly deserve.

J Berridge,

Yorks CSSC Bowls Competition Secretary,

Knapton Lane,

Acomb,

York.

Updated: 10:12 Monday, November 10, 2003