ANDREW Eccles of Northminster Properties Ltd makes a brilliant, and glaringly obvious, suggestion to solve the Coppergate crisis - move the shopping mall development to the vast Hungate site (February 22).

Piccadilly could still be developed and the sensitive area around Clifford's Tower could be saved from the inappropriate and offensive Land Securities proposal. Everyone's a winner!

I was, however, amused at the comments of Roy Templeman, director of development at the council. He was reported to have criticised the scheme because it was near a busy bus route.

Clearly it wouldn't do to have a shopping centre easily accessible by bus.

Dave Gorman,

Fishergate, York.

...HUNGATE is a big site and well able to cope with a large retail development.

If the council is correct that Coppergate II needs such large units, then this must be the site of preference.

Hungate has the benefit of the nearby ring road, the new bridge over the Foss and should be well able to cope with the lorries required to service these larger retail stores.

Stonebow is well served by buses, so ease of access is assured. There is already a multi-storey car park in place so that takes care of drivers. They will not need to come too close to the city centre and this would cut pollution. No alteration to the junction at the south end of Piccadilly would needed.

York citizens are being asked their opinions on Hungate development. We did not have the same invitation for Coppergate II, but now here we have two massive projects in the city which, if handled carefully, could regenerate Piccadilly, Walmgate, and keep development away from Clifford's Tower.

City of York Council should consider this option, it would preserve the historic Eye of York area.

Stuart Wilson,

Castle Area Campaign Group,

Vesper Drive,

Acomb, York.

...I WORK for City of York Council and pay council tax as a York resident. I don't have a Park and Ride pass, but I applaud the council for giving passes to council staff.

These people obviously live outside the city and are therefore encouraged not to bring their vehicles into the already-crowded centre.

Just think, all those people who work for the supermarkets, for example, getting staff discounts. Who makes up for this? Everyone else who shops at a supermarket.

The list of jobs which have perks is huge and all the costs are passed on to the customer. While I appreciate that hospital employees claim they don't get free parking, that's a problem for the health trusts to sort out. Anyway, quite a few hospital staff and visitors use our street as a car park so we residents can't usually get a space during the day.

Andrew Tessier,

Rose Street, York.

...FREE Park and Ride should be offered to those council workers who provide a service in and around our city. This will reduce congestion and contribute towards a cleaner environment for us all.

It will also reduce the cost implication of driving and parking while in the service of the city. Perhaps it isn't the drain on taxpayers your headline implies.

R Fletcher,

Fifth Avenue, Tang Hall, York.

...WHO does the City of York Council think it is believing it is all right to spend our money giving free travel passes to its staff?

I also work in the city centre not too far from the council offices. My employer does not have free car parking. The safety and expense of city centre car parks means travelling to work by car is not an option for me.

So I, like many others, have taken to cycling in and out of York to work as encouraged by the city council. It should practice what it preaches.

How much has it cost us so far with the creation of cycle lanes, cycle paths, extra road markings in expensive green road surfacing at traffic lights etc?

Now the council urges its own employees to leave their vehicles at home, because they will get the citizens of York to pay for their bus fares to work and back.

The council should spend our hard-earned money on worthy causes such as looking after the elderly and community services etc, all of which need money to help the whole community.

P Wright,

Gouthwaite Close,

Clifton Moor, York.

...I CANNOT believe it. We are expected to absorb yet more council tax rises because we are told it is the only way the council will be able to keep services running. Now I find the council is wasting money supporting its workers.

What makes these people so special that they do not have to pay for their Park and Ride like others? This is a total misuse of council funds.

Steve Carpenter,

Evelyn Crescent,

Clifton, York.

Updated: 10:41 Tuesday, February 26, 2002