Leave York alone please

I loved Richard Catton's article “Cars are here to stay, Mr Merrett” in The Press on Friday 3rd May.  He makes a clear argument against spending £170,000 on an idiotic (my word) experiment to solve traffic problems by closing Lendal Bridge to private cars between 10:30 and 17:00. 

Those of us who have lived in York for many years know it will be an expensive failure.  Perhaps if the Millenium Bridge had been built to accommodate all road vehicles it might have stood a chance but  we'll never know.  Get real and try to remember that traffic congestion means people are coming into the city to shop and work.  Just what a city is for.

We have also heard in recent weeks of the plan to “improve” Kings Square, also in the town centre, at a cost of £490,000.  I've been through that square many a time and am struck by the beauty of the York stone paving, the cobbles and kerbs, making it an attractive and old fashioned square.  Tell me how improving it with crappy concrete blocks all over the place is going to improve this look and feel.

Why can't we have a survey where question one says “Is the place already a pleasure to visit?” and then leave it alone if that is top choice?  Also who are these “people” who are surveyed before unwanted changes are made.  They never ask me or anyone I know from York.

Who gave permission for university accommodation to be built on a monumental scale near  Stonebow?  Have a look at this eyesore next time you walk along Peasholme Green towards the city centre.  Massive and horrible, an eyesore that will haunt the city for years to come and built during this council's watch.  For shame.

Who narrowed the roundabout on Clifton Moor near to the cinema and then added cycle lanes, meaning the narrow exit will inevitably lead to an accident as a cycle is crushed by a long vehicle?  Astoundingly daft!

Why also do we need 22,000 new homes in York.  Where are the jobs for these people?  Not the temporary building jobs but the permanent (well more permanent) manufacturing and service industry jobs.  I don't see a plan for those at all.  We don't want more large developments just because James Alexander wants to lord it over a bigger city and that seems to be the only reason for such a large proposal.  If you want a large city Jimbo, then GO and find one elsewhere.

Please, leave what remains of our once beautiful city to those of us who love it as it is and maybe by not experimenting and saving £660,000 on those two changes above, you can stop putting up our council tax up all the time.  Think about people struggling to pay for everything and stop tinkering.