YOUR leader advocates the use of the River Ouse for transporting racegoers to Knavesmire and other leisure purposes (February 21). Unfortunately the comments referred only to those who now use it for boating.

York & District Amalgamation of Anglers members have spent much of their leisure time on the banks fishing, above and below the city, as well as within its limits, for more than 117 years.

Strangely enough, the amalgamation was not invited to be represented at the Inland Waterways Association's slide show (Letters, March 30), despite being a major user of the river, although we do attend the Users Of The Ouse Group hosted by British Waterways.

There are also a number of other boating groups that use the river's facilities, so the region's rivers are already used by a large number of people.

It would be to all users benefit if these meetings could be made available to all concerned.

R Hutchinson,

General Secretary,

York & District Amalgamation of Anglers,

Manor Park Close,

York.

Updated: 09:48 Tuesday, April 05, 2005