A SUBSTANTIAL majority of the comments you report concerning the Coppergate proposals appear to favour development along Piccadilly with the preservation of a large open space around the Tower (the open space to be remodelled as a new public piazza, not merely left as a car-park).

The point should perhaps be made that responsibility for the general nature of this development lies with the city council planning department, and not with Land Securities. The council has insisted in its Draft Local Plan and at the local inquiry that the development in this area shall consist of a large scale comprehensive scheme focused on major retailing space.

Although proposals for the areas have been under discussion for ten years, the planning department has not offered the citizens of York any consultation about the strategy; or any alternative to a large scale/major retail option. The council has refused to enter discussions about possible alternative approaches, despite the encouraging potential.

Clearly many of your readers feel that alternative visions, and perhaps more noble ones, are desirable and ought to be investigated. It remains to be seen whether the planning committee will now take cognisance of a vision for the area which is being expressed from the community, instead of simply a theory from within the planning department.

Andrew Eccles,

Chartered Surveyor,

Piccadilly,

York.