Let's not get carried away by misinterpretation of the big turn-out for the community planning day, on the proposed 350-house development at Osbaldwick (Evening Press, October 11).

The real reason why so many residents turned up was not to welcome the scheme, but to express their deep misgivings over the detrimental effect this massive development - and especially its associated traffic - is likely to have on the Burnholme and Osbaldwick areas.

Some were puzzled on arrival, to see the scheme described as 'imaginative', on pre-prepared colour 'comment' cards, plastered on display boards.

For it is said no detailed plans exist! Indeed, the purpose of the weekend consultation was allegedly so that residents could voice their opinions to the four selected teams who are to prepare various schemes.

Could this be 'imaginative' spin-doctoring?

Or was it the 'Master Planner' (as he was described on his pin-on identification label) representing one of the planning teams?

He said he was from London and confessed he had no idea that B&Q is already developing a 100,000 sq ft mega-store (with all the traffic that will generate) close by, at the other side of Osbaldwick.

No wonder there is trepidation!

S Brewer,

Tranby Avenue,

Osbaldwick,

York.

...the community planning day may have 'captured the imagination of local people' but it failed to answer a number of important questions posed by residents on the effect this development will have on their neighbourhood.

As a resident of one of the areas affected, my concerns, shared I believe by many others attending this PR exercise, were: where will the access roads to the site be going, what effect will the construction of 350-plus houses have on adjacent communities and what proposals are there to ensure that existing roads will cope with the increased traffic?

There is also the contentious issue of high voltage overhead electricity cables crossing the site. Will they have to be removed, resited or are they to remain?

Answers to what are fundamental planning questions were impossible to obtain from the York council staff present on the day. Perhaps it is time that the City of York Council planners 'raised' their profiles and responded directly to the concerns of residents to ensure that the full facts surrounding this development are made known to all, before it is given the go ahead.

D Spaven,

Apple Tree Village,

York.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.