THERE has been a lot of controversy about the new council offices that are due to be built. But what about the present council offices in St Leonard's Place?

They have just been left to deteriorate to such an extent that the exterior of the buildings are now in a very dilapidated state. Surely, if at some time in the future these buildings are to be sold to the highest bidder, the buildings should look their very best to attract these future buyers.

If a private person wishes to sell their house, then the kerbside appeal is of great importance and agents will express the need for any external work to be carried out before advertising the house.

So what is the council planning? Are they not interested in getting a good price for these offices. I suppose not, as it is not their money that they are playing with, but ours.

A J Best, Wigginton, York.

A City of York Council spokeswoman, said: "The council sold its offices in St Leonard's a couple of years ago and has a short lease to stay in them until it moves to Hungate. The council will not be spending tax payers' money improving the look and state of repair of St Leonard's as it is quite likely that the new owners will want to refurbish the whole building and possibly change some of its use away from offices, which are not what the buildings were originally designed for, nor what they are well suited for."


* MATTHEW Laverack is quite right when he says the council would never grant planning permission to anyone else for a building like its new headquarters towering over the Black Swan pub (Readers' Letters, April 2).

I would like to know why no one in the planning department has stood up to say so. Planning officers are quick enough to quibble over the trivial details of insignificant, everyday applications submitted by householders and small builders, but when it comes to one of the most important projects ever there is not a peep out of them.

Is this because they are too busy nit-picking insignificant little projects to notice that their employers are intending to erect a huge glass and concrete box of alien design right next to a two-storey listed building? Or is it because when their voice is really needed not one of them has the bottle to speak up against their political masters.

John Jones, Sand Hutton Manor, Sand Hutton, York.


* NO, Mrs Whitehead (Readers' Letters, April 2), you are not the only person who likes the external appearance of the proposed new council offices. Judging by the drawings I have seen in The Press and in the reception office of the Guildhall, it is a most pleasing building. Its faces are broken up in such an interesting manner that it is totally misleading to call it a box.

I make one reservation, however, which is of prime importance. If it is made of concrete, it is essential that this be not left exposed, or it will look horrible in a few years time. I don't know the materials available, but should imagine that reconstituted stone would be better than no stone at all.

Joyce McDougald, North Parade, York.