YOUR article on the future of the Hob Moor school site will be welcomed by local residents (December 10). Many will feel that they have been kept in the dark by the council on the future of the old school site.

I campaigned with the local community for a new-for-old rebuilding of the school itself.

The only option offered by the Government to fund this building was to use the controversial private finance initiative (PFI). This means that the council itself needs to make up a budget shortfall of around £700,000. This figure is driving some councillors towards selling off the Northfield special school site and using the income gained to part-fund the Hob Moor scheme.

The sale of Northfield, however, means that an alternative site for a 120-place school catering for pupils with special needs must be found.

One official has claimed that the old Hob Moor site is the only suitable option for this new school. Thus there would be two schools on a campus where previously there was only one.

As an alternative, officials have looked to sell the old school site for the erection of 40 houses.

Either way, residents face the prospect of substantially increased traffic in their narrow streets.

The council should make its estimates of increased traffic flows available before a bid for PFI funding is submitted. A lot of time and money would be wasted if a bid was accepted and then subsequently a planning application failed.

We have tabled an alternative use for the old school site for consideration. We feel that a development for older people would minimise transport problems and address the needs of the growing numbers of older people in the city while producing some income for the council.

Coun Sue Galloway,

Westfield ward Liberal Democrat,

Stirrup Close, Foxwood, York.

Updated: 10:49 Tuesday, January 22, 2002