For many years my family and I have visited your beautiful and ancient city. We never tire of sightseeing and we frequently bring friends from all corners of the world.

During the past month we have brought friends from California on three occasions into the city, where they marvelled at the many beautiful buildings and the charming streets such as Shambles, Parliament Street and Coppergate.

I am absolutely appalled to read that your city is even considering the very idea of the proposed overwhelming modern glass and steel development, known as Coppergate II, to overshadow Clifford's Tower and the York Castle Museum and nearby buildings.

How on earth can your City Fathers be fooled into thinking that such a monstrosity could ever enhance your wonderful town.

No. You should be preserving your priceless heritage, not destroying it. There can be no place for such an awful development within the city walls.

I seem to remember that at one time the inhabitants of York were quick to decorate the walls and battlements with the heads of anyone who committed a serious crime against them.

Are there any pikes left in York?

N H Baguley,

Park Road,

Spofforth.

...IN the 11th century William of Normandy imposed his will upon the rebellious people of York by laying waste to the city and building a tall castle to defend his garrison there. Over the centuries we have begun to see this castle, now known as Clifford's Tower, as an asset to the city, rather than a threatening imposition.

How many centuries will it be I wonder before Richard Akers of Concrete and his Coppergate II shopping centre will be seen in the same light?

Roger Mowbray,

Tower Place,

York.

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