For some time, I have been following the story of the cycle path across Walmgate Stray with great interest, and the only conclusion that I can come to is yet another benefit for the people of York University.

This land is common land for the people of York to enjoy. As a boy I enjoyed the area, safe and unspoiled, as did many before myself, for generations. It would be nice to think that my daughter could enjoy what I enjoyed. But no. The people of the university already have so many benefits in our city. Discounts here, discounts there, our locals have been taken over by these people.

I would like to ask any one of these people at the university that if and when they return to their origin if they found out that their local area had been desecrated, what would their opinions be? Total uproar I would think.

I would like to think that the citizens of York consider that the people of the university are, for a considerably short period, guests in our city. We live here all our lives. It's time for the people of York who appreciate the common land that we have inherited for our children, to stand up and say, that's enough.

R Taylor,

Fulford Road,

York.

...in the late 1940s York City Council utilised land on the Hob Moor to construct Hob Moor School.

All went well for several years until concern was expressed by the Ministry of Agriculture at the use by the city of Stray land for this construction. Consequently, at great expense to the council, compensation had to be provided by using land where the former Acomb Brickyard ponds had been to extend Hob Moor.

Will the latest concrete pouring on Walmgate Stray be of interest to MAFF, and will tax-payers be required once again to foot the bill?

Chris Watson,

Harlow Close,

Holgate,

York.

....like many others I imagine, I was unaware of Walmgate Stray being, according to description, between Fulford and Heslington.

The impression given is that a considerable amount of cycle traffic is to commute via this new route, which seems rather puzzling and unnecessary, if as appears there are already two parallel roads running either side of this from the main Fulford Road into Heslington, with a third higher up.

Likewise I find the desire for provision of a new bridge, but for pedestrians and cyclists only, between Fulford and Bishopthorpe Road puzzling re expenditure and effort.

Mrs P A Johns,

Whitcroft,

Sandy Lane,

Stockton On Forest,

York.

...having read the article on the proposed cycle path on Walmgate Stray I feel that I must protest against this plan.

As a dog walker I feel that this piece of land must be allowed to be as it is now, there is very little land left now that we might walk dogs, and this one is ideal for just this purpose.

I do hope that the people concerned in this project will reconsider this plan and I know that there are many objectors with myself to this proposal.

Mrs C Dick,

Westfield Drive,

Broadway West,

Fulford,

York.

...I agree with your correspondents that Walmgate Stray is a valuable open space.

I enjoy walking there with a friend's dog, and I share an allotment at Low Moor. It is usually very peaceful, and when I was there on Saturday morning there were only three other people and their dogs.

However, I do not think that constructing a single cycle path, 2.5 metres wide, with no lighting or street furniture, will spoil the beauty of the Stray. The path will be close to the wall of The Retreat for much of its length and it will be generally inconspicuous.

The new path will bring many benefits which have not been mentioned in your columns. Visitors to the university will have the pleasure of cycling across the Stray and avoiding the surrounding roads, which are not cycle-friendly, and there will be a direct route to the cycle paths on both sides of the River Ouse, once the Millennium Bridge has been built.

Walkers, joggers and users of prams or wheelchairs will also have the benefit of a route which is not muddy and waterlogged, as the meadow is for several months of the year.

The risk of accidents involving cyclists and children or dogs will be much less than on the New Walk path, because the Stray is likely to be less busy, the children or animals on the path will be easily seen.

Finally, it is becoming obvious that road traffic cannot be allowed to go on increasing and it is better to make cycling and walking attractive alternatives to the car for local journeys than to allow congestion on the roads to increase so that everyone suffers.

Humphrey Terry,

New Walk Terrace,

York.

...I too wrote a letter to the planning department about cycle paths across Walmgate Stray and also attended a meeting held on the Stray before Christmas.

Many voiced their objections and apprehensions, but to no avail it seems.

At the moment walkers, with or without dogs, use the stray without the need of a path.

With this cycle track how does the council propose to stop track bikes, motorbikes from using it too - to the detriment of the Stray? At the moment stiles and gates effectively do this.

As a walker I find cyclists and walkers don't mix well as I know only too well having used the many cycle tracks already in existence in York.

Walmgate Stray is the one place at the moment where there is still peace and quiet and no Tarmac, whatever York council and Sustrans might say to the contrary.

Mrs F Dewar,

Huntington Road,

York.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.