I am surprised at the apparent stealth being used regarding a planning application for a conversion of The Elms, Hull Road, York, into a "halfway house" for people who have been evicted from other council areas for noise, causing trouble etc.

Only a few local residents have been informed by the City of York Council of this proposed development. I, for one, have not and I find this difficult to understand considering I live about 200 yards from the site concerned.

It seems this has been kept quiet for obvious reasons. Local residents would not be able to do much once this development was up and running.

I have written to the planning department today to object to the proposals on the grounds that, given the type of people that are likely to be resident there, we could be subject to the sort of behaviour that has been responsible for them being put there in the first place.

I urge other local residents who feel the same way to write to the planning department. The closing date for objections is next Monday.

Richard Wells,

Milson Grove,

Hull Road, York.

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