SIR, - The local Conservative councillor knows perfectly well that every councillor in Leeds is against green belt development. He also knows quite well that planning law is extremely complex.

He cannot have imagined in his wildest dreams that the council would on the basis of his five-minute lightweight speech throw out a Unitary Development Plan that has been ten years in the making with a public inquiry lasting more than two years and costing council taxpayers more than £5 million.

His motion and last week's letter in the Wharfedale were simply there to score political points, headline grabbing but with no substance. Do we really want years more of uncertainty while developers drive a coach and horses through lack of decision?

What has been shown by the Unitary Development Plan is that it was too big. You cannot cover every planning issue in a city the size of Leeds in a short timescale. Residents' views and planning law have changed since 1990 when it started and will surely change again by 2010 when the Conservative plan would have reached approval stage.

What local residents want is a decision and an immediate start on a focused revision of problem areas. Housing in green belt and green field sites is the obvious first priority and with it the density of housing development on so called brown field sites.

I believe that a careful revision would yield rapid results. The Conservative call to throw everything out would be a recipe for anarchy and chaos that would take five or six years as a minimum to resolve, despite its superficial appeal.

Coun Graham Kirkland

(Lib Dem, Otley and Wharfedale)

Westholme

Westgate

Otley.

Cheap points

SIR, - The effect of Councillor Clive Fox's attempt to sabotage the UDP (the development plan for the area administered by Leeds) would be to declare an open day for property developers.

It would leave Otley without a properly defined Green Belt and open Bramhope and Pool to relentless expansion. As we live next to an expanding city, the inevitable outcome of a new review of the green belt would be to lose more of it. Councillor Fox knows this full well.

He also knows that the recent Government guidance on housing development (PPG3) offers only temporary respite to settlements like Bramhope and Pool. The long-term effect of PPG3 is to concentrate development in such communities at ever greater densities and with inadequate parking provision.

To claim that Leeds is going for 'early adoption' of the UDP after it has taken 15 years to develop the plan is absurd. The Government's recommendation is that these plans should not be older than five years.

Parts of the ward, such as Otley have plans that are more than 30 years old. Councillor Fox's crocodile tears over low cost housing would be more convincing if he had supported the only scheme on offer in Otley and Wharfedale for more than 60 homes at Rumplecroft.

He chose instead to score cheap political points, as he is doing now over the UDP, rather than trying to get the best deal possible for local people. To give him credit Councillor Fox is a wily political animal, but what else would you expect from the party of property developers.

Coun PHILIP COYNE

Newall Mount,

Otley.

Missile blast

SIR, - In his letter to the Wharfedale Observer (January 25) concerning US proposals for a Missile Defence System, the Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate refers to 'downed missiles landing on us'.

If he had carried out even elementary research, he would have learned that the proposed system currently being tested destroys approaching missiles while they are in flight outside the earth's atmosphere and any debris will be burnt up on re-entry. There would be nothing left to 'fall on us'.

In the same letter he also discusses Russian missiles, but it has been made clear that the proposed system is designed to protect America, and potentially her allies, from missile attacks by rogue states such as Iraq, North Korea and Iran.

It is important if we are to debate issues such as defence, where emotions can run high, that the facts are not disregarded in this way. In the post-Cold War world it is vitally important that the US does not take an isolationist stance.

The European Rapid Reaction Force already has the US worried about her role in NATO. Support In principle for the National Missile Defence System may be one way to redress that balance.

Adam Pritchard

Conservative Prospective

Parliamentary Candidate,

Leeds NW,

460A Roundhay Road,

Leeds.

Country life

SIR, - I felt compelled to write in reply to a report that appeared in the Wharfedale Observer last week. The content of the story was a barrage of complaints about the wildlife of Pool, namely squirrels and jackdaws.

It may come as a complete surprise to Mr Shaw that the so called nuisance squirrels and jackdaws have a prior claim to the territory that he, who by his tone, would suggest to me that he is not, nor never has been, a country person, but in fact is a townie who emigrated to the country and wants to drag along townie values.

If country life does not agree, then he can always go back to the town. And what it's got to do with the council is beyond me.

Squirrels and jackdaws and muck spreading, and silage, and cows and sheep are a fact of life in the country, but there again, what would Mr Shaw know about that.

P James

(A country person),

42 West Park,

Guiseley.

Threat to peace

SIR - Councillor Clive Fox (Letters, February 1) seems unable to take seriously the threat to world peace involved in the United States' National Missile Defense (NMD). Implementation of this system by the United States will involve launching nuclear counter attacks against enemy missiles in space.

This will contravene the series of international treaties and agreements that followed the Cuba crisis, under which space was to be free of national frontiers, territorial claims and nuclear weapons. It will contravene the Anti Ballistic Missile Treaty of 1972 and encourage other nuclear states to increase their arsenals accordingly.

NMD is a defence system for the USA, not for Britain, Europe or any other country. Equipment tests for NMD have so far proved unsatisfactory - 'accidents' in space will cause fallout which will affect us all.

It is nave to suggest that world leaders, friendly or unfriendly, do not know of the existence and importance of US intelligence bases such as Menwith Hill (which has been expanding steadily for 40 years).

Any current contribution to the local economy by the base would hardly compensate for the total loss of that economy, were Menwith and the surrounding area to be obliterated. Let us all work together to create a security system for the whole world based on trust and co-operation, rather than supporting an escalating, expensive and dangerous arms race.

Mrs H COSTELLO

Lisker Avenue,

Otley.

'Wake up' call

SIR, - Mandelson has been found out - again. This time for rewarding foreign sponsors of the Dome with privileged treatment in the granting of passports.

Illegal immigrants get vouchers, detention and abuse, but for those with a few million pounds to lash out, New Labour can provide anything. When money talks, New Tory Labour listens.

As New Tory Labour's principal architect, Mandelson's serial deceit epitomises what New Labour politics is all about. Fraud, deception, hypocrisy, betrayal and with arrogance and ego the size of the planet.

And what now, for Mandelson's glove puppet, Blair, distraught at the loss of his mentor and too mesmerised by him to recognise him for what he is.

The Prince of Darkness will still lurk in Blair's shadow and may yet reappear in Hartlepool on election night like Dracula from his coffin. Keep the wooden stake at the ready, there is still life in Mandelson's ego.

So who pulls Blair's strings now Mandelson's gone? Why, no less an upright citizen, Blair's minder and right hand man, Alister Campbell, who controls us through Blair and we call this democracy.

This is a 'wake up' call for Britain. Unless, of course, you are lucky enough to live in Scotland where students don't pay fees and the elderly and disabled are given free nursing and personal care as recommended by the Royal Commission.

The Scots would be well advised to rebuild Hadrian's Wall and keep Blair's Tories and ghouls where they belong - in the Palace of Westminster.

Malcolm Naylor

21 Grange View,

Otley.

Author's links

SIR - I wonder if it would be possible to appeal through your newspaper for assistance with research into a book I am compiling about Leeds born author, Eric Knight, who was born in Menston in 1897 and later attended Bewerly Street School for Boys.

Eric migrated to America aged 15, where he became a famous author, not least of the 'Sam Small, The Flying Yorkshireman' stories.

He served in both 1914-18 and 1939-45 wars but was tragically killed in January 1943. I would like to contact anybody who has any memory of the man or his family, or any relatives of Eric Knight. I am most grateful for your assistance.

GREG CHRISTIE

34 Ryedale Close,

Norton,

North Yorkshire,

YO17 9DQ.

Tel/Fax 01 653 6931 79

e-mail Samsmall1@aol.com