YOUR story "York to get rock festival" (February 22) compared a proposed music event for York Arts Forum with the Temple Newsam event of last year, which has caused a great deal of concern for residents.

I have been in discussion with members of the York Arts Forum who approached me for assistance in presenting a weekend of music, poetry and comedy, which would provide a stage for many local, talented artists of all ages. This we plan to hold on Bustardthorpe Field.

York Arts Forum is a responsible group. It has presented a serious, structured proposal which is now ready to be presented to our licensing department and to the police.

To call it a rock festival is a long way from the truth. Surely we should be encouraging groups such as York Arts Forum, not discouraging them with adverse publicity.

Liz Topi,

Events officer,

York Leisure Office,

Back Swinegate,

York.

...I ATTENDED another superb concert of music by Handel performed by the university choir and the Yorkshire Baroque Soloists at the Central Hall of the University on Saturday.

It made me realise how fortunate we are in York to have such a wide choice of high quality classical music readily available at so many locations. We have the university, the Early Music Festival and the Minster, to name but a few.

Our local orchestras and choirs work incredibly hard to reach such high standards that they are able to attract some of the finest soloists, not only from Great Britain but from all over the world to perform with them in York.

Unfortunately, while arguments over whether we should hold a rock music festival attract wide publicity in the press, the achievements of our classical performers are hardly mentioned.

I should like to thank all those who work so hard to make available such a rich and varied choice of classical music, not only the performers, but also the organisers. Please keep up the good work.

M R Smith,

Long Meadow,

Warthill, York.

Updated: 10:09 Friday, March 07, 2003