I WOULD like to welcome the petition about the "studentification" of eastern York on behalf of the Conservative councillor candidates in the affected areas (Call for action on student property, The Press, March 23).

We need to ensure that where there are students and longer-serving residents in a community, there is harmony. This means making sure that whole streets don't become student properties, but also that where there are students they are made to feel welcome.

I hear cases of local residents abusing students just for being students and I hear cases of students showing no concern for locals. Either way, it is unacceptable and neither side can possibly claim a moral high ground.

This is the reason why we need to make sure the university's expansion includes full housing provision for the new students. Not only will it allow local residents to still feel at home, it will also reduce the amount of resentment that students sometimes have to deal with.

By the local community, the university and students working together, we can avoid a "them-and-us" situation that exists in other student towns.

Michael Rutherford, Conservative councillor candidate, Fishergate, Lawrence Square, York.