I AM furious that Chris and Sarah Wood can say: "Certificate 18 gives very little - if anything - back to the community around it".

I am involved in organising charity events in the city, and Certificate 18 in Gillygate, York, has been more than happy to offer support and host fund-raisers there on a number of occasions.

York Hospital's Special Care Baby Unit benefited from a musical marathon but where were the residents of Gillygate with their community spirit then?

There is an Oxfam gig to highlight World Poverty there next Monday, June 27. I invite all 22 residents, and their consciences, to this event.

Through its annual music competition Certified, which starts next Wednesday, local bands now have an important platform to showcase their talent and express their artistic freedom. York's music scene is young, vibrant, and important for the city.

M and L King's fears that noise, crime, disorder and nuisance will materialise are unfounded. The police have never been called out to any disturbance at the venue.

J Scott's ridiculous statement that the problem is "younger people, particularly students and Goths coming and going in large groups and being extremely noisy" is laughable because large groups of people in general are noisy, not just a specific type. Given a choice between the Goths, and the hooded Chavs that besiege your local Spar shop I'll take the Goths every time.

Phil Gallagher,

Address supplied.

Updated: 10:46 Friday, June 24, 2005