YOUR correspondent Keith Chapman wrongly believes that tighter building control would have prevented brickwork falling from the Phoenix Restaurant (Letters, July 17). That building was erected more than 100 years ago and is not subject to modern building regulations. Our building codes are among the toughest in the world; making them even more onerous will not prevent incidents of the type in Clarence Street, which thankfully occurred in the early hours when few people were around.

Matthew Laverack, Architect, Lord Mayor’s Walk, York.