CONGRATULATIONS to Alison Sinclair (Wednesday, September 17), whose vision for the York Castle area offers real hope to those who have rejoiced at the reprieve recently given to this historic area.

I hope members of the City Of York Council will read and study these proposals, which could offer a lasting enhancement of this fair city.

We recently visited Rowntree Park after many years, and were impressed by the attractive refurbishment of a once-beautiful park for the benefit of all.

As Chair of the Friends of Rowntree Park, Miss Sinclair is surely to be trusted to guide the development of the Castle site in a new, bold and sensitive direction. It would also provide a haven of peace and beauty on the opposite side of the city from the other oasis, Museum Gardens.

Rosemary Davies,

Pear Tree Avenue,

Upper Poppleton,

York.

...IN 1968 the Esher report offered a new vision and hope to all those who love our city and its architectural and historic environment.

The report was commissioned by the Labour government of the day to safeguard cities such as York from unsympathetic development.

Now a planning inspector has given us a unique chance to rethink the conservation of the castle site, the most important in the city after the Minster.

Unfortunately, our councillors seem to think the report is merely a setback. I see it as a wake-up call to go back to Esher's principles of regeneration.

Lord Esher warned that planning in the heart of York will always be an exceptionally difficult exercise and it can only succeed if architects of the highest calibre are employed to design buildings and advise the council.

The council should now employ an architect independent of developers to bring forward a new plan which could make this heritage site worthy of our city and our country.

Richard O Whiting,

Redman Close,

York.

...NOW the Coppergate Riverside scheme has been thrown out it seems more appropriate to get on with Piccadilly redevelopment and take more time to improve the castle area on similar lines to Alison Sinclair's version (September 17).

Mrs P Johns,

Whitecroft,

Stockton-on-the-Forest, York.

Updated: 10:19 Thursday, September 25, 2003