I WAS outraged and exasperated after reading your report on The Walmgate Venture development (August 22).

Following the tragic history of development blunders inflicted on our city and with the public inquiry into the Castle Car Park/Castlegate development just days away, even I dared to believe some lessons had been learned by the planning committee. But not so!

I am not one of those 'traditionalists' John Reeves prefers to believe the only criticism can come from.

I appreciate quality design in any architectural style but, appropriateness of location, size, style, materials and quality of execution are my yardstick for any development.

Your photograph clearly indicates to me a method and style of building primarily chosen for speed of construction at minimum cost. Its design is more appropriate for holiday camp accommodation or York University's 'Disneyland' campus!

Having now viewed the gleaming metallic roofed mini tower-block, thrusting obscenely above the delightful pantiled roof of the Red Lion pub in Merchantgate, I hold those responsible for this latest act of desecration in utter contempt. Is there nothing that can be done to retrieve the situation?

Derek R Wortley,

Turners Croft,

Heslington,

York.

Updated: 14:08 Friday, August 31, 2001