WHAT distinguishes the York of 1938 from York 2001 is not so much municipal bravery (Chris Titley column, May 30) as civic pride.

The museums and the art gallery were not then seen as primarily money-spinners.

Our museums and art gallery need to be taken seriously. Dropping them into the lap of Leisure Services suggests that they are part of the entertainments industry.

However popular they are, their main economic contribution is indirect.

What is required is a museums' service in the hands of experienced professionals dedicated to maintaining York as a cultural centre. That is what we once had. What we have now is NHS-style management with a remit to cut costs.

The result of this policy has been to demoralise staff and to deter visitors.

Having signally failed to restore the fortunes of our nationally-renowned museums and art gallery, the management is understandably anxious to be rid of what has become a professional embarrassment as much as a financial encumbrance.

As usual we are told that residents have been consulted, and that there can be no alternative to the council's proposal to hand over our museums and art gallery to an independent charitable trust. Residents, like beggars, can't be choosers.

Also as usual, councillors do as they are instructed: Coppergate II, Queen Anne School, ballistic bollards, York Archives; development of the Green Belt; the list is endless.

Politicians never tire of grumbling about the apathy of the electorate; but what about the apathy of the elected?

William Dixon Smith,

Welland Rise,

Acomb, York.

...PUBLIC support for culture and the arts, music, drama, galleries, museums goes back to the dawn of government itself.

The ancient Greeks were unsurpassed pioneers. The galleries, museums and theatres bequeathed to us by our Victorian forebears are still some of the best in the world.

In York our philistine council first abolishes the committees dealing with museums and galleries without consulting the people and proceeds to set up a 'trust' for the galleries and museums again without consulting the people of York, the Friends of the Art Gallery or the staff of the art gallery. Funding is guaranteed for five years and after that? Oh dear - not enough funding - they will have to close or be sold?

Who are the trustees going to be, what are their terms of reference? We are paying more council tax and still there are cuts in services.

We can not expect galleries and museums to always be profitable but try explaining that to philistine Rod Hills and his lackeys.

It's Greek to them.

Anne Greagsby,

ex-Labour city councillor,

Lime Tree Avenue,

New Earswick,

York.

Updated: 10:28 Thursday, June 07, 2001