IT IS sad that Coun Steve Galloway has interpreted all protests against the Arc Light centre in their community as being by people who seek to "demonise minorities" ('Make A Stand!', April 15).

If Mr Galloway chooses to listen to the residents of York (or perhaps bothered to turn up to the consultation meeting), he will find the majority think Arc Light undertakes worthwhile work.

Residents will make a stand when they are bullied and blackmailed into making rushed decisions about the future of their community under a weak guise of 'consultation', lasting a total of eight days, two of which are public holidays.

The letters of Tim Bates and Sian Hodgson, published on the same date, clearly show this. Add the further total of two days that the council has allowed itself to compile and present a report on all the 'consultation' responses received; including those from a meeting which alone attracted approximately 200 residents.

We were told at the "consultation meeting" on April 10 that if we fail to find a site for Arc Light, because of the Shipton Street debacle we will lose project funding and local residents are likely to "have to pay for it themselves".

So we are now held to ransom by an executive which fails to undertake proper consultation in the first place, and now wants to place a residential building on one of three car parks or a site in Piccadilly, all of which could attract a high market value, if indeed our land is 'for sale'.

A situation which sounds not unlike the Barbican.

I agree that the council should integrate the new Arc Light into the office development at Hungate - if residents agree please register support by visiting:

www.communigate.co.uk/york/residentsunited/index

Lee Lambley,

Claremont Terrace, York.

Updated: 10:20 Tuesday, April 18, 2006