JUST as York prepares to switch on its Nestl Rowntree Christmas lights, ensuring every street is a quality street this Yuletide, the Diary learns of another illuminating tale.

The old street lights on Osbaldwick village green were being replaced by modern ones which "would be more in keeping with perimeter lighting around a prison camp", according to villager Mark Warters.

These are provided by a private contractor.

Mr Warters began corresponding with City of York Council about the replacement programme over a year ago. City engineers told him the old lamps had to go because they had become electrically unsafe.

Meanwhile, the cast iron cast-offs "are of no resaleable value; indeed it costs money for the contractor to scrap these columns since they are so corroded below the surface level," a council officer stated in a letter to Mark.

Now to get all technical. It is important to point out that there are two types of old street lamp in question. The "Lucy" corrodes quickly and is electrically dodgy, whereas the "Revo" is tougher and easily adjusted to meet modern electrical safety standards.

Having visited the village, the engineer conceded that "I can appreciate that the Lucy type columns are not as prevalent in Osbaldwick as in other areas of York and accept that where the Revo style columns are installed they should be retained wherever possible".

This suggests to the Diary two things: first, that the street lamps were being ripped out without a proper physical appraisal of their condition; and second, that it is always worth fighting for the heritage on your doorstep.

As for that claim that the "scrapped" old street lamps have no resale value, we're not so sure.

Mark went along to a machinery auction centre at York Auction Centre, Murton, in September. There he photographed lots 1449 and 1450, street lamps clearly marked as formerly belonging to City of York Council.

Together, the lots sold for £770.

GOOD to see from our letters page on Monday that the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution loves trees. Those growing in Norfolk anyway. Not so keen on the ones standing in the way of its Connaught Court development in Fulford, seemingly.

Two Connaught copper beeches are gone. But other York foliage is still under threat.

Here's a planning application now lodged at the council:

Ref No: 04/04060/TCA

Location: The Walnut Tree, Heworth Village, York

Proposal: Fell Walnut Tree.

FURTHER to a national restaurant reviewer suggesting that the late, lamented Askey's in York was one of Britain's best fish and chip shops, another nomination.

"Although Bridlington has some of the tastiest chippies in Yorkshire (and the one behind the Stephen Joseph theatre in Scarborough is not bad either...) the best fish and chip shop in York is Gale Lane Chip Shop," e-mails Eddie "Elvis" Vee.

"The service is always excellent and the staff are attractive and efficient. The fish is cooked in healthy vegetable oil and is always hot and crispy and not dripping in oil when you unwrap it.

"The chips are always tasty and the extra large fish is simply mouth-watering."

Incidentally, Eddie is being filmed by yet another TV crew at his gig in The Bay Horse, Stamford Bridge this Friday. It's free and starts at 8.30pm. If you fancy dressing up, go rock'n'roll.

Updated: 08:58 Thursday, November 25, 2004