LIBRARY Square was cleared of all local parking months ago, leaving easy access to the rear of the terrace of fine houses soon to be converted to a hotel.

Now Lendal Bridge is to be closed to all private vehicles so that St Leonard’s will be almost traffic free. It has been suggested that this was a condition of the sale. Can anyone clarify this?

Meanwhile, have any figures been made public, such as what the city was paid for the site, what was the original rent back paid by the council and how much higher were rent charges for the extended period when the new offices were not finished to the agreed time?

Less damage would have been caused to St Leonard’s if the original homes had been restored, similar part-time jobs would have been generated and the owners would have an investment in York year round.

Let us hope the existing hotels will not suffer too much due to the further surfeit of rooms and that patrons will spend lots of money in any shops still left open.

How much is all this upheaval going to cost us local Yorkies in time, trouble and gridlock as we are driven out of the city centre?

As usual, Tourists 1 Locals 0.

Mrs M Barker, Ousecliffe Gardens, York.