AS A resident of South Bank, in York, and a regular user of the Knavesmire area, may I congratulate all concerned at the recent successful conclusion of the licensing wrangle.

I was one who feared the outcome of late licence applications in residential areas.

Largely, my fears have proved groundless due, I believe, to the application of clever and well-thought conditions on licensees. Hats off to the officers responsible!

However, under another hat, I cannot but compare the care and consideration given, quite properly, to some areas with the treatment meted out to the residents of York's Barbican area.

The new licensees of the massive Barbican centre buildings have been granted every conceivable licence until 2am and even later some nights. This despite great opposition by residents. No protective conditions of any consequence for them.

We are told that mediation with Knavesmire residents has taken place. The Barbican residents would have liked some of that. They might even have settled for some consultation!

The people who live close to the Barbican feel betrayed. They feel that their interests have been ignored and that they have been sold out to commercial interests. Come on councillors, comment on these remarks. You're not usually backward at coming forward!

Finally may I say how much I enjoyed Coun Vassie's letter (Snooty York, April 25), especially the last sentence: "we stay in our bunker, going nowhere, meeting nobody, and learning nothing". Does this remind readers of anybody in particular?

Ernie Dickinson,

Chair,

Save Our Barbican,

Anne Street, York.

Updated: 09:51 Thursday, April 27, 2006