Car park blues on the way? Certainly if the council fails to take notice of public concern. Careful thought is needed and the following points should be considered.

1. St John’s University has already taken up valuable city centre space. Any further expansion in this area should be avoided.

2. Union Terrace is essential for providing convenient parking within walking distance of the city centre for both coaches and cars.

3. Gillygate retailers are right to be concerned as their trade would certainly be affected. The car park is also frequently used by theatregoers.

4. Changing car parks to a “pay at exit” system would be complicated and likely to mean higher charges.

If the hospital car park is anything to go by it could produce “daylight robbery” prices which would be extremely detrimental to city trade and force people to go out of town.

Incidentally the hospital prices are disgraceful and should be revised as a matter of urgency.

Jean Frost, Woodlands Grove, York.

York St John plans to expand into Union Terrace car park, creating almost 200 new jobs in the process.

Most of the funding from the sale will then be used to “Reinvigorate York” by being spent improving paving, lighting and the general public realm to the high quality that York deserves.

This includes revitalising all along Gillygate. This was mentioned to The Press, but was not printed.

Without the income from such a sale, the council cannot afford to carry out such work. The city centre has seen better days and needs to be improved not just for visitors but for residents as well.

This proposed sale has been discussed in the council months before the Liberal Democrats lost the local election.

The difference now is that Labour are not afraid of taking the tough decisions required to help increase jobs and promote economic growth and that we will spend most of the money received from this sale on the city centre.

I thank Coun Ian Gillies, leader of the Conservative Opposition Group, for giving his tentative support to this scheme to create 200 new jobs and invest at least £2m in revitalising the public realm, including along Gillygate.

Coun James Alexander, Leader of City of York Council, Holgate Road, York.