HAVE City of York Council's executive considered the Terry's site for their own use now that it will no longer be required by the Yorkshire Regional Assembly? They seem to think that everyone else can move there.

It will require a direct link with the A64, a Park & Ride and a dedicated busway into the city centre.

At the moment council offices are spread all over York, often in unsuitable premises. The redundant Terry's factory building could be converted into spacious office accommodation for all their various departments to be under one roof.

This may even make these departments speak to each other instead of getting on with their tasks without thought for others.

I am sure there would be plenty of room for a council chamber and committee rooms.

With the new sports stadium and Ascot-style racecourse alongside the site, I am sure that both councillors and employees would be happy with their new surroundings, although a supermarket and a couple of take-aways would make it even more acceptable.

To help pay for the move, the St. Leonard's Place property could be sold to a developer for conversion to executive-style flats.

Because of its location close to the rail station and cross-city bus routes, the occupants of these flats would not need private transport so car parks could be dispensed with.

As councillors and staff would no longer have to come into the city centre, then traffic congestion could also be reduced by this move.

Alec Acomb,

Hillcrest Avenue,

Nether Poppleton, York.

Updated: 10:09 Tuesday, July 27, 2004