I HAVE found myself increasingly astounded in the past few weeks to read the apparently overwhelming opposition to the Coppergate II development which has been published in the Evening Press.

My immediate response to Julian Cole's column ('Not more shops, please', August 10) was one of resolute agreement, not imagining that he would go on to oppose the proposals for the area covering Clifford's Tower and the Foss.

At the exhibition about the development I was immediately struck with relief that finally someone was setting out to address the fast degenerating area around Piccadilly. I was further impressed by the enthusiasm of others.

Mr Cole wrote that: "With true imagination, the land around Clifford's Tower could become a green and pleasant open space." I quite agree. And, as I understood it, that is exactly what has been proposed. The immediate area around Clifford's Tower is to be grassed, and the land on the banks of the Foss are to be opened up with bridges and verandas. Consider what we are faced with at present: a huge car-park

I couldn't agree more with Mr Cole's cry for "not more shops", but if we want action on the city centre's eyesore we need to shake off the narrow-minded approach.

Caroline Watson,

Cedar Glade,

Dunnington.

...MY sister lives in York and I often come over to go shopping. York is a very special place to come due to its character and charm and it is a change from the type of general offering in the Manchester area.

I was very surprised when I heard of the plans for a vast new shopping area around and beyond Clifford's Tower. This could change the face of York for good and especially so if I may say if we are talking Debenhams, T J Hughes (who seem to deal mainly with sales and discount shopping) and Burger King, then certainly not for the better.

Mrs R Fairhurst,

Chelford Road,

Broken Cross,

Macclesfield, Cheshire.

...THE views of English Heritage (August 12) do not address the main objections to Coppergate II. Issues such as retail overkill, impact on historic York, car parking, Park & Ride, pollution, congestion, the treatment of the River Foss and open space surrounding Clifford's Tower fall outside the preferred remit of that organisation.

Any suggestion that the York public is 'quite positively' disposed towards the scheme deserves considerable scrutiny. How can it be that not one of the many letters submitted to the Evening Press has been supportive?

Surely the council cannot hard back to the 'public consultation' at the York Story. This was in fact a Land Securities presentation, staffed by them next to a council ballot box. No attempt was made to address the above wider city issues and the scheme's retail dominance (250,000 square feet) was completely dumbed down.

It would be far better if the council could leave open its precious and important land surrounding Clifford's Tower and if the scheme was smaller, for mixed (demonstrably required) uses including some retail, and confined to Piccadilly.

A M Sinclair,

Mulberry Hall,

Stonegate, York.

...WE are certain the Coppergate Riverside development will be detrimental to York. It doesn't look nice and it's just not wanted. It will be harmful to small busi-nesses and be a last opportunity for a pleasant green centre for York.

A J Richardson,

The Mount, York.