WITH regard to the sign belonging to Ged Bell and Maureen Cox, Mike Smith (June 18) makes the point: "an unnamed council spokesman states". Mr Bell and Miss Cox have a right to know who the spokesman was and who for whom he was speaking. From the public reaction he is certainly not a spokesman for the ratepayers.

So, which particular member of the council ordered the sign to be removed? On whose behalf? Who is the one individual who complained about it? Was it one of the grossly overpaid councillors? Was it someone who has a vested interest in a similar business?

I estimate that there are about 2,000 similar signs around the city, so why has this one been singled out? Shepherds builders have just hammered two signs into the grass on the island at the junction between Fulford Road and Cemetery Road, they do more harm to the grass than Mr Bell's does to the three, why haven't they been removed?

One of the reasons for the recent riots in Gothenberg is because un-elected bureaucrats make senseless legislation, in private and without explanation.

We need to know who complained about this sign and who ordered its removal.

Derek M Martin,

Fulford Road, York.

...IT IS pleasing to see the number of letters sent in support of the signboard advertising two shops on Middlethorpe Grove that was placed on Tadcaster Road. Since I moved to Whin Road 11 years ago we have lost three of the six shops that were there.

The shops offer a real service to local residents, particularly older people who do not want to have to drive out of the area. Given the council's goal of decreasing traffic in York, it would seem only sensible to support local facilities that can be walked to easily. I hope the council will reconsider and allow the sign to return; it was neither obtrusive nor does it seem to have damaged the tree.

M H Griffith,

Whin Road,

York.

...FOR businesses wishing to put advertising in a public space in York I have a simple suggestion: offer to sponsor some improvement the council think they can't afford to pay for, preferably via a charity. As a reward you are bound to be allowed at least one large sign advertising your business and telling us how generous you are, and anyone who complains will be seen as mean-spirited.

Try planting up a roundabout, for example. At one I use daily there are three signs, each measuring 33 by 14 inches, towering over 34 newly-planted shrubs. The area measures 175 square feet, so there's a square foot of advertising space for every two square yards of soil tilled. Not bad value, I'd say.

Ulla Wiberg,

Stockton Lane, York.

Updated: 10:33 Monday, June 25, 2001