I am getting confused as to what James Alexander really wants for the city of York.

He is advocating attracting more and more tourists to York, and yet he is intent on tourist transport ie coaches (and of course cars) being unable to park in Union Terrace which he wishes to sell to St John’s (Council chief’s plea to traders, June 21).

He also wants to sell Kent Street coach park to the North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service. Where then will coaches park?

How is he going to reconcile these attitudes? The phrase “rushing into things without due consideration” comes to mind.

We have a right to expect our council and its leader to give careful thought to the pros and cons of their decisions. They should undertake a thorough, evidence-based review of the situation, such as a full picture of the uses of Union Terrace car park, a very busy place, including its availability for hospital visitors, and how its facilities could be replaced successfully.

Otherwise we may live to regret decisions taken in haste for apparent short-term gain.

Anne Pettit, Deramore Drive, Hull Road, York.

• So Coun Alexander believes that the selling of Union Street car park will bring into York approximately £2 million which he proposes to use on “improving paving, lighting and litter bins”.

It may have escaped my notice, but I have never seen a paving stone or litter bin ask, or pay, for fish and chips or toys or patisseries or whatever else the excellent shopkeepers of Gillygate have on offer.

This plan will condemn the Gillygate area to being yet another student ghetto.

Is it also imprudent to ask how, given that the Government is removing funding from all humanities-based courses (which I understand is the mainstay of York & Ripon St John), this extension is to be funded?

For the first time in my 54 years, I voted Labour at the last council elections because I thought they could make a difference. I now realise that I have simply voted to replace one set of “numpties” with another.

Neil Raw, Oriel Grove, Clifton Without, York.

• Union Terrace car park is well used, especially by residents from the north of the city. Not only is it convenient for visiting the city centre, but many residents use it when visiting York Hospital.

If Labour go ahead with the sale of Union Terrace there is a very real risk that, unless equally convenient alternatives are put in place, residents will decide not to visit the city centre and will decide to shop out at Clifton Moor or Monks Cross instead. This would be a massive blow, not just for the businesses on Gillygate, but all businesses in the city centre.

It may be tempting for Labour to sell assets like Union Terrace to fund grandly named schemes like Coun Alexander’s “Reinvigorate York”, but the reality is selling off such a well-used car park would have a serious impact on the city centre.

Such an impact will ultimately affect all residents of our city in a variety of ways, not just those who rely on the car park. The damage would be far more than can be repaired by a few new streetlights and rubbish bins.

Keith Orrell, Liberal Democrat councillor for Huntington & New Earswick, Trent Avenue, Huntington, York.