IN 1975 a city council scheme was reported in the Evening Press showing a development for a museum area in Castlegate.

York Story was the start with Fairfax House made into a town house, No 31 offices and store for the museum, and No 32 a caf with picnic area, toilets and museum workshops to the rear, all accessible to the public.

Because Coppergate Phase 1 came along, together with the discovery of the Viking area, the scheme came to a halt.

York Civic Trust turned Fairfax House into a delightful town house, No 31 is the Impressions Gallery and No 32 a caf.

York Story could re-open with a visitors' centre or be redesigned for special one-year exhibitions.

The Castle Museum is unable to expand to show off its many stored exhibits.

The museum and Castlegate should be linked by a garden, possibly with an amphitheatre, and the area could become a centre for tourists.

New building should be on the Piccadilly side of the River Foss because pile-driving on the car park site could damage nearby buildings and Clifford's Tower.

The council should remember that the public have only enjoyed this area since the great prison walls were removed about 65 yeas ago.

David Green,

Slingsby Grove,

Dringhouses, York.

...NOW that C&A is closing down there should be no need for Fenwicks to go to the expense of extending in the other direction. They could take over C&A premises and also have the windows of Piccadilly to attract customers off the coaches in Kent Street.

Debenhams is very well placed in the city centre as it is. If they were to move the usual thing would happen, yet another empty city centre site to add to the already down-trodden look of the place.

Piccadilly is the biggest eyesore we have apart from Stonebow House. It needs redeveloping with the much-needed housing and offices. Come back Lord Esher!

Mrs J M Leeman,

Hesketh Bank,

Badger Hill, York.

...YOUR articles on the proposed Coppergate development (August 15) highlight one of the most important, and potentially destructive, planning issues to face York for many years. But does it need to be just a simple yes/no decision?

Of course something must be done about the shabby Piccadilly sites, but why should the price be the desecration of the Eye Of York? We can still have commercial development on the east of the Foss, with a fine open view to Clifford's Tower across the river and an open civic space worthy of this important historical monument and of the Castle Museum.

Or is the council being held to ransom by the developers, who are saying: "Give us both banks of the river, or no deal"? If there really is the demand for more shops then the Piccadilly development alone should be viable, and this exposes the developer's arguments. To succumb to such pressure exposes the council's commitment to upholding the heritage of our city. We should be told.

T C Tozer,

Church Lane,

Elvington, York.

...IT is all very well for Trevor Kidd to agree with the Coppergate centre (August 15). When he has lived in and around Piccadilly as long as I have, he has a right to speak. I do not want any more car parks in Piccadilly.

He must have seen the queues on a Saturday down Piccadilly trying to get in the car park next to C&A. Can you imagine all the delivery vans, lorries etc to these new shops? Two hotels going up with no car parks? I thought York councillors were trying to stop cars coming into the city.

P Andrews,

Leicester Way,

off Lead Mill Lane, York.