YOUR lead story 'York to get £50 million science project' (August 21) seems to have been given the wrong headline.

What was described was a large speculative office development which may or may not house scientific endeavours.

The press release that no doubt initiated this story clearly tries all the tricks to win us over - environmentally-friendly, limited parking, low energy buildings etc. It is so sad that the 26 acres to be used were claimed to be empty.

What? No wildlife?

Is it realistic that the office staff will cycle or walk to the site in significant numbers?

Most will drive to work and if they cannot park on-site they will park on the nearby Park and Ride site and walk from there. Is this walking to work?

If York is to become a significant area for bioscience, office-based activities will not be enough.

To attempt to mislead the public so blatantly is to treat us with contempt.

Richard Firn,

Stockton Lane,

Heworth,

York.

Updated: 10:06 Thursday, August 23, 2001