WHAT do York citizens have to do to get a decent sports venue in this city ("£7m York sports ground rejected", October 24)?

I am York born and bred and fully appreciate the beauty of not only the Minster, in the shadow of which I have lived for most of my adult life, but also the need to keep the Green Belt around the city.

I also enjoy sport and recreation. To take part in most of these pursuits, I am forced to pay private clubs large sums to enjoy their facilities because my local council obviously does not deem it necessary to meet this need.

Not only is the Barbican scheduled for closure, the city planning officer has now decided the proposed Clifton Moor sports complex "will affect the view of the Minster from the North".

I remind the officer the Minster is built on high ground and can been seen majestically in the distance from many miles around. It is not spoilt by any of the surrounding area and if this were to be the case no building should take place.

Do we extend this to housing where the council is actively encouraging three-storey accommodation to ensure a high per capita density?

A developer has signed an "option agreement" for the land, presumably to build housing.

Is there not a dichotomy in the acceptance of house building, with its inherent obstruction of the view as opposed to a sports complex, which would be largely low-rise and open space?

Philippa Bowman,

Woodland Chase,

Water Lane,

York.

Updated: 12:33 Tuesday, October 28, 2003