IT is sad to see the new Christmas decorations in York of so much lower a standard than those we have enjoyed during previous years.

Fortunately, some of the old ones have been retained - in Stonegate and Colliergate, for example.

These are traditional, based on the star or green garlands with white lights and red bows and perfectly in keeping and proportionate, to the old buildings of York.

The new ones, as in Low Petergate and Coney Street, are too big, over-coloured and ugly with pipes and wires all over the place, and frenetic light activity that should almost carry a warning sign to epileptics. They also display prominent advertisements for the sponsors and they emit an aura of commercialism rather than Christmas goodwill.

The tree in St Helen's Square looks as if the lights (which are too short!) have been slung on in five minutes, and the most noticeable part is the huge box base bearing the sponsor's name. The lights in Goodramgate, which are usually particularly good, this year look a mere shadow of their former selves be-cause so many of the lights are not working

Please may we revert to the old practice again next year? If expense is such a problem, let's have no street lights at all in Low Petergate and Coney Street. Relying on the excellent efforts of the shopkeepers would be preferable.

Helen Wright,

Grosvenor Terrace, York.

Updated: 10:26 Friday, December 28, 2001