I MUST answer your article and readers' letters on the subject of disabled access, particularly in respect of the De Grey Rooms.

York Conservation Trust only became the owners of this grand property on March 31, since when we have fully surveyed the building and its neighbour, De Grey House, to establish the work required to preserve it and make it free from water penetration.

In addition, we have reviewed ways of gaining disabled access to the building and already had an on-site meeting with the city's conservation officer to discuss our ideas, which have met with a favourable response.

We will now draw up the detailed plans and apply for planning and listed building consent, which will probably take three months.

If anyone has any influence with these departments and can speed up the process, I would be pleased to hear from them.

We cannot be held responsible for work which was not completed before our ownership. This trust does more to protect the city's properties than any other organisation in the city.

Philip Thake,

Chief executive, York Conservation Tru

Updated: 09:39 Tuesday, May 03, 2005