I AM a regular visitor to York, having attended the College of Ripon and York St John in the early 1980s.

I would like to add my voice to the concerned residents who are unhappy with the possible decision to sell a strategic coach park to the now York St John University.

The massive extension to the original college on Lord Mayor’s Walk is startling and I gather has already taken valuable land away from the public domain as a former coach park.

To want to take what is in fact a very large plot of land to further enlarge the university is totally unnecessary.

The coach park is a favourite with drivers because it avoids the need to head into the already congested centre of York.

Hundreds of people walk along Gillygate, giving much-needed custom to the retailers. Once those shops close (and they will) that area will not recover.

All over York there are signs expressing the views of the people which are being completely ignored.

A short-lived injection of cash can never replace the more long-term investment in the future of York.

Patricia Hovenden, Southborough, Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

• I WAS appalled to read (The Press, July 27) of secret reports and the fact that a council cabinet will decide the fate of the Union Terrace coach and car park; indeed the fate of businesses and York’s tourism industry in general. Any decision should be made by all councillors, not an elite few, at a meeting where the public are admitted and the members should vote by a show of hands. We would then see which councillors are working for the prosperity of our great city, and those who are obviously not.

David H Meek, Yarburgh Way, York.

• OUR city council is empowered by the electorate to run our services, make important decisions regarding the properties and assets publicly owned, and be totally responsible for all fiscal matters within their control.

Just one question. Why was the proposed sale of the Union Terrace car park not put out to general tender?

Geoff Robb, Hunters Close, Dunnington.

• THE Press of July 26 reports that the council’s cabinet is set to seal the Union Terrace car park deal.

If the site is sold, it is proposed to introduce “pick up/set-down points” at Piccadilly, Monkgate, Lord Mayor’s Walk, Foss Islands Road, Foss Bank and Union Terrace; some of these are on the Inner Ring Road, most are congested for long periods.

Surely the present situation, where most tourists are set down and picked up in one place, is logical.

Imagine 30/40 coaches and several hundred cars being injected into already congested roads, all looking for alternative parking.

In particular, what are the coach drivers expected to do, take pot luck when choosing a new set-down and pick-up point?

Isn’t it possible that a large majority of them could call at the same point at once, much the same as it can happen at the Union Terrace coach/car park?

The phrase “If Union Terrace is sold after public consultation” is critical.

If the recent outcry is an indication, then the public consultation is likely to disagree with the proposal, the question is will this ‘listening’ council comply with the public’s decision?

J Beisly, Osprey Close, York.

• I RECENTLY sent an email to City York Council expressing my concern over the sale of Union Terrace car park.

In a response, I was told: “Interested parties will be able to offer their views at the full council meeting on August 4, at the cabinet meeting that follows it, and through the council’s six week consultation with the public which starts on the August 5.

Then I read in The Press (Thursday, July 28), “A decision on Union Terrace will be made on August 4, following an extraordinary meeting of the council and a subsequent meeting of the Labour group’s cabinet.”

I was somewhat confused by these statements, so I asked for clarification.

The Labour cabinet group are making a recommendation when they meet after the extraordinary meeting of the full council.

It is this recommendation which is then going to a six-week public consultation.

Following that consultation process a final decision will be made.

Your readers may find this useful.

Nigel Evans, Poppleton.

York.