THE affordable housing dispute continues, with the local building trade saying the percentage is too high, and the council sticking to their guns, stalemate now exists.

Before the affordable housing stipulation was introduced, local councils built houses for the less prosperous, and builders did developments where a fair profit was expected.

Everything worked well and new homes were built.

As happens when our leaders try a bit of social engineering, things start to go wrong. This old system wasn’t broken, so didn’t need mending.

Let’s return to a mixture of more good, solid council houses being built, and private housing developments being done by the professionals – namely local builders. Good old supply and demand will determine the amount needed.

Geoff Robb, Hunters Close, Dunnington, York.