I WAS shocked and saddened to read the city council planning department could put York Cycle Hire out of business (October 20).

Along with many others we used this facility extensively over the course of last summer.

When I spoke to John Hopkinson, he told me that the archway will now be left empty and derelict and there will be no cycle hire facility in the city.

I cannot believe that the council has embarked on this action. Perhaps planning officers should go on a business awareness course, or is the council completely anti-business, run as a quango for jobsworths?

Completely unjustifiable actions like this can only be bad for York, and the council should be ashamed.

Andrew Clark,

Castle Howard Road,

Malton.

Updated: 11:57 Monday, November 03, 2003