PEOPLE power was given a welcome boost last night after City Of York Council's Planning Committee rejected a controversial scheme for 145 flats.

Local residents in Bishophill had complained that the planned development for the NCP car park in Skeldergate was not suitable for such a sensitive area. At five storeys, the flats were considered to be too high, while concerns were also expressed about access for vehicles.

Fortunately for the people of Bishophill, the planners agreed and the Bryant Homes development was refused permission.

York at present is a vibrant and attractive city, a winning mixture of the old and the new.

Developments are springing up in every spare square inch, with flats being squeezed into all available corners. It many ways this is good for the city, as it shows that York is somewhere people want to live.

However, the wishes of those already living here must always be taken into account.

The emerging 'new' York must be a city that respects the lives of all the people, and not just those who wish to live in modern flats and apartments within strolling distance of the River Ouse.

On Wednesday we reported at length about the new vision for York, which is being considered under the unwieldy New Labour-style title of the local strategic partnership.

For any fresh vision to work, developers need to be both welcomed and, where necessary, constrained - because a city as important as York has to be careful about how it proceeds.

Today's decisions are tomorrow's future.

Updated: 10:16 Friday, March 29, 2002