CONGRATULATIONS to Persimmon on its announcement of record profits (March 3). It's always nice to see a York company doing well, especially as now the company holds the title of "the biggest housebuilder in Britain".

With a profit of £267.6 million, this company has grown since its Fulford birth 27 years ago, and this is something of which people in the city of York should be really proud.

I say "should" because a significant portion of us are not proud of Persimmon at all. In fact, we are disgusted with them.

Why? Because how can a local company with that kind of profit margin justify its wish to knock down Bootham Crescent, the home of York City Football Club for twice as long as the Persimmon company has existed, and destroy a major community facility?

Persimmon may be a York company, but clearly it has lost one of its Yorkshire values - a belief in the community.

I sincerely hope Persimmon's profits are lower next year - hopefully because they have pulled out of the disgraceful Bootham Crescent development, or because they have decided to sponsor the local football team, rather than destroy it.

Phil Howden (York City season ticket holder),

Marmian Drive,

Stockton-on-the-Forest, York.

Updated: 10:36 Wednesday, March 12, 2003