I AM angry about the council's decision to give my friend John Hopkinson one month to quit his bicycle business underneath Lendal Bridge (October 20).

I am a member of the Cycle Tourists Club and believe the loss of the only cycle hire business in York will disappoint many tourists.

John and his staff all cycle to work at the shop. Their environmental impact and contribution to the air pollution of York streets is nil.

John's premises has the big disadvantage that it floods whenever the river rises. The premises cannot be successfully used for any other business.

The council's policy is to get more people on bikes and reduce air pollution - so why close a business that actively encourages people of all ages to cycle?

I am a volunteer with the Salvation Army and consider it extremely bad judgement on the York council's part to allow a sex shop to trade directly opposite the Citadel in Gillygate.

On one hand, the council allows a sex shop to sell its wares, where Sunday School children can clearly see it across the road.

On the other hand the council advocates more cycling and shuts down an environmentally friendly bicycle sales and hire business.

City of York Council should apply common sense or voters will tell you to get on your bike!

Kevin Hopper,

Horsman Avenue, York.

...A FLEDGLING cycle hire business could possibly fold because the city council couldn't be a little flexible.

We may not have the whole story, it may be that John Hopkinson was less than constructive in his dealings with council officers.

But this is just the kind of business York needs for its tourists.

Fine walls and a cathedral are not enough. People will go away with a memory of the things you could do here (such as boat trips, or hiring a bike in the centre) that they couldn't do elsewhere (visit all the same shops as they can everywhere else, as the council has planned for Clifford's Tower).

Why not allow a few bikes and a banner to be displayed for a season?

If, at the end of a year, trade has increased then the business could afford to pay more rent. After all, York is marketing itself as the cycle city.

Clive Tiney,

Towthorpe Road,

Haxby, York.

...AGAIN our glorious council has proved common sense is no longer a consideration in its dealings with the people they serve.

Who was the "jobsworth" who decided to close the York Cycle Hire down? Yes, the gentleman concerned had put his bikes on their land. Sorry, our land - I pay towards the upkeep as does every other council tax payer.

No one asked me if I minded.

Common sense tells you the cycle people had to let the customers know where they were. Couldn't the council agree on some sort of sign? No, it's easier to close the business and throw these workers on to the dole.

Rita Crombleholme,

Deramore Drive,

Badger Hill, York.

Updated: 10:22 Thursday, October 23, 2003