A YORK election candidate has hit back at claims by one of his rivals over claims more money from a controversial housing development should be put back into the local community.

Mark Warters, who is standing as an independent in the Osbaldwick ward for City of York Council, said cash received by the authority from the sale of the land on which the Derwenthorpe scheme will be built should be used to benefit local residents.

But Jonathan Morley, the Liberal Democrat candidate for the ward, said the community had already been helped by council funding.

“Approval has already been given for almost £400,000 of expenditure on roads in Osbaldwick and Murton, including £152,000 for Tranby Avenue, a scheme of which Mark Warters seems unaware,” he said.

“Or is he playing the game of announcing he will be calling for something which he knows is already planned? I have pointed out in a leaflet that residents had repeatedly voted, through the council’s local ward committee, for schemes to enhance their communities, giving examples from Osbaldwick and Murton.”