WITH reference to the letter from Jean Frost (Stray questions, May 29), there has been a mutual agreement between the Freeman of the City and the council since 1958 for Monks Stray to be used as an open space for the benefit and enjoyment of the citizens of York for all time.

There is also an event protocol for Monks Stray, which was first agreed by councillors in 2005 and was reviewed and agreed again in 2010, and has always given an indication that events are acceptable.

Events are often held throughout the city in open spaces including Armed Forces Day and the Viking Festival, and charges are often made.

A public hearing to decide on the approval of the licence for Monks Stray is due to take place at 10am on June 14, in the Guildhall.

Gill Cooper, head of Arts and Culture, City of York Council.

• IN this new era of fairness and responsibility in government, may I appeal through your columns to City of York councillors to enter into this potentially exciting period and perhaps set a trend in local government relations with central government by returning some of the grant allocation made by the last government of £1,250,000 for play areas in the city of York?

It is proposed to spend £50,000 on Monk Stray alone on the erection of such a facility. The majority of property owners, otherwise known as council taxpayers, surrounding the stray do not want it; the demographics of the area make it neither essential nor desirable.

It is almost unheard of to return a grant once it is earmarked. It is not yet spent, it cannot be spent on anything else such as roads or policing, so why waste this money on something that no one I have spoken to or anyone that I have heard of in the area actually wants?

Please return this money to central government and assist in reducing the serious financial deficit facing this country. If this were followed by other councils then a great step forward in the war on waste would have been taken.

We have heard a great deal of the Dunkirk spirit in the past week. So come on York councillors show us that it is still around 70 years on.

Peter Lock, Straylands Grove, York.