We made the council think

Perhaps oddly, in light of the fact that the plans have been given the go-ahead, I would also like to offer my congratulations.

Since the plans were announced in March it was virtually inevitable that they would be approved as the council was so clearly in favour of them.

Sixty-seven letters of objection, representations from Woodlands Respite Centre, Heslington Parish Council, the MS Society and others, petitions, personal pleas etc were not going to change their minds.

What this campaigning did achieve, however, was the imposition of extensive restrictions and conditions on the developers in terms of noise, landscaping and the nature of their operations. This is why I say congratulations to everyone who protested against these plans.

Next Generation found York people are not the pushover they expected and have had to accept our terms, not theirs. You never know, the council may even be a little more cautious before it offers up another bit of open space to developers.

Jane Duke,

Sports Centre Action Group,

Windmill Lane, York.

...LEAVING aside the fact that developers and landowners are going to make money out of York's first tennis centre, Woodlands is a respite centre for very poorly people to have peace and quiet, be pampered, have a holiday and give their caring families a rest. They deserve our respect and consideration. We fought long and hard to fund Woodlands and together with St Leonard's Hospice they are the jewels in the crown of 'caring York' whereas David Lloyd's Next Generation Clubs are, by their nature, centres for fit, able-bodied people to have fun, make noise, run about and enjoy themselves. Nothing wrong with that, we need such centres, but the two don't mix.

There is still plenty of land available at Monks Cross and Clifton Moor where the able-bodied can have fun and collect their shopping on the way back. Aren't they lucky!

Pamela Egan,

North Lane,

Malton Road,

York.