I question the logic of certain York councillors and the city's police licensing department.

Obviously, both these groups are completely out of touch. We often hear about them turning down numerous planning applications for new licensed establishments for some lame excuse or another.

The latest is the proposed wine bar/restaurant in the existing derelict eyesore on Queen's Staith/Skeldergate.

This type of place is exactly what York needs to update itself and appeal to the city's young and tourists alike.

Yes, there are plenty of pubs. But there is no real alternative to these traditional pubs or the few standard Indian/Italian restaurants.

The choice seems to be joining the multitudes in the Micklegate cattlemarket or being stuffed into a small, dull, and often down-at-heel city centre pub.

Time and time again I hear of visitors who say they enjoyed York but the choice of evening venues is so poor they will either never return, or come back only for day trips.

Practically every other city and town in Britain has moved in the nineties and have numerous wine bars, brasseries, late bars and alternative clubs. I suggest councillors visit places other than York to see how things have moved on.

For the council and police, it appears that turning down applications is the path of least resistance - anything for an easy life. The city of York in the evening, both in choice of venues and attitudes of existing licencees, hasn't progressed since the 1970s. Come on, times have changed - wake up and smell the coffee.

Al Fox,

Nunthorpe Road,

York.

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