YOU published an article by Stephen Lewis on the economic and business arguments for and against the Coppergate riverside development (August 16).

In this, a former city planner with the Leeds and Wakefield Councils, Peter Spawforth, is quoted as saying that for York to be able to compete with Leeds and Newcastle, the city "needed to continue to expand. Without a large, modern city-centre retail complex to match that of its rivals, York was in danger of losing out."

Mr Templeman, York's Director of Environment and Development Services, seems to be making the same point where he is reported elsewhere in the Press of the same day that if York does not invest in "quality shops" in the city centre it would lose out with other towns and cities in the region.

Why would York would want to rival Leeds and Newcastle, pleasant and enjoyable though those cities are. York is special simply because it is not like Leeds and Newcastle - nor many other large cities throughout the land.

If we want to keep the city's special quality then we must show the powers that be their assumption is wrong.

We do not want to be like Leeds or Newcastle. We must continue to say no to the Coppergate Riverside proposals as they stand.

N A Sinclair,

Norfolk Street,

Bishopthorpe Road,

York.

...YES, York does have an "eyesore", a motley collection of buildings and car parking. A location benefiting from a water frontage and an adjacent historic site is a prime candidate for development.

However, if the best that can be proposed is yet another retail development then this points to both a lack of vision and a major lost opportunity.

Will this be because money talks with such a loud voice and distorts the faculties?

If people want big shops they will go to Leeds or Meadowhall and be nice and dry. York has many attractions and a compact pedestrianised town centre but will not, and should not, try to compete on big shops.

As a regular user of Union Street car park I experienced first hand the impact of the opening of Monks Cross retail development - ample car parking spaces even on a Saturday. One wonders therefore if there are enough shoppers to support the proposed or existing in and out- of-town retail outlets?

Richard Lamb,

Greystoke Road,

Rawcliffe, York.

...I hope the Coppergate II development will not go ahead - or at least only as a much scaled-down version if it does. York, a major tourist attraction because of its history, has more than enough shops already.

I have lived in York for more than 20 years and my husband and I never had to go outside of York for home furnishings. There are enough high-quality shops already, and now that I no longer own a car I appreciate the centre of York being so compact with all the shops that I need being close to one another.

By all means tidy up the rather derelict end of Parliament Street with small businesses, or even homes, and construct a pleasant riverside walk along the Foss with lots of green space and room to stroll - but keep the shops where they belong, in the centre.

Betty Lee,

Lucombe Way,

Hatrigg Oaks,

York.