IT warms my heart to read that the Barbican development is being proposed solely for the benefit of the people of York and not at all to make money! ("'Barbican will be better' pledge", April 28)
Why is Andrew Cossins pictured in front of the Barbican auditorium? Unless I have missed something, the deal for the theatre site is nothing to do with Mr Cossins.
His company is building the 135-bedroom hotel and the 260 plus flats. Absolute Leisure is the company who is taking over the auditorium site, and I hope your readers have not forgotten that the deal is for a renewable 250- year lease for a one-off payment of £750,000 with no rent payable afterwards.
This equates to £60 a week for 250 years and this outrageous "giveaway" of citizens' property must be stopped.
This deal, and the effect of the gross over-development for the rest of the site, is the real mischief which is being wrought here and it is caused by developers' greed and the council's weak-kneed, hasty acceptance of a quick-fix answer to the Barbican's financial problems which we believe are caused by the managerial incompetence of both the Department of Leisure and TLF.
The Save Our Barbican Group is not against development - we are against this development. Concerned citizens should immediately seek a public inquiry.
The address to which to write is: Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber, Planning Casework Team, 11th Floor West Wing, City House, New Station Street, Leeds, LS1 4HS.
E P Dickinson,
Save Our Barbican Group,
Anne Street,
York.
...REGARDING the Barbican affair, it may not be generally known but the council intends to give away the freehold of the sites for the proposed housing and the hotel and to hive off the car park on a 250-year lease to a private operator.
This privatisation of what should be seen as public assets means that areas which were once freely accessible will be so no longer. "Trespass", "Keep Out", "Residents and Patrons Only", "No Bicycles" will become the order of the day.
It didn't say anything about this in the design brief or the invitation to tender. Or was it in the very small print?
Philip Crowe,
York.
...EDNA Glowala's letter (May 6) illustrates the misinformation that typifies the Save Our Barbican campaign and shows why their petition ought to be treated with suspicion.
The Evening Press letters page has also demonstrated the misinformation given to people signing the petition. Yes, current outdated facilities nearing the end of their life span will be demolished, but not the auditorium.
Mrs Glowala, however, fails to mention the new facilities that will be built metres away from the present location of the Barbican leisure facilities.
These will include: a 25-metre community pool; a teaching pool; fitness suites; exercise studios; crche and a soft play area.
These facilities will be publicly owned and operated by the council.
The refurbished auditorium will be leased to a private operator under strict terms governing its use and will retain its present capacity.
The deal will also provide the council with funds to carry out desperately needed repairs and refurbishments to the Edmund Wilson and Yearsley pools.
If the Barbican were to be retained in its present state, this would not happen and there would be a real risk that these facilities would close.
The decision to develop the Barbican site made years ago has now resulted in a good deal for the people of York that will ensure modern, high quality leisure facilities are retained across the city.
Coun Keith Orrell,
Executive member for leisure and heritage,
Trent Avenue,
Huntington, York.
Updated: 10:57 Monday, May 10, 2004
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