Mr MACHEN has a valid point with reference to a bus station in York (Letters, February 18) and he rightly points out that a good site has been lost for ever on the old Foxton's Garage. But not a stone's throw away is another more central site!

Last year a notice went up on the old Presto's site stating that it would be demolished and a new Thistle Hotel would rise from the rubble. This as yet has not happened and I wonder if it ever will?

If the hotel plan has fallen through, I wonder if a forward-thinking person in power would consider making this tatty run-down site a possible location for a bus station instead.

It's close to the railway station and city centre, what more could we ask for?

P R Willey,

Burnholme Drive, Heworth, York.

...THE perception among a number of Evening Press readers is that a central bus station could solve the problems with York's bus service. The major problem facing such a solution is a site that is available and suitable.

The debate on the redevelopment of Hungate has elicited a suggestion that it would be an ideal site and additionally provide an opportunity for the integration of bus and rail travel.

I would contend that the reliability problems are the result of traffic congestion and not the lack of a central bus station.

Nor would Hungate provide an integrated transport solution even for the proverbial crow, when it and the rail station are on opposite sides of the city.

Hungate provides major redevelopment opportunities and to build the city's most expensive bus shelter is not one them.

Richard Lamb,

Greystoke Road,

Rawcliffe, York.

Updated: 11:13 Wednesday, February 20, 2002