REGARDING the controversy over Union Terrace car park (Car park climbdown, August 1), I was born at 87 Union Terrace 87 years ago.

As I remember, it was a thriving area if we include Gillygate and Clarence Street. I remember shops such as Park Bakery, Hooper’s Chemist, Wrightson’s fruit shop and Lockwood’s newsagents, etc.

In Clarence Street we had a wet fish shop, newsagents and Sadd’s fruit and vegetable shop.

So many to mention and not forgetting The Grand Cinema. Happy days!

Sadly it went into decline, but now it is coming to life again I would not like to see it killed off.

As a matter of interest, we had five houses in the street, even moving next door on one occasion. Is this a record?

BF Kenyon, Ganton Place, Dringhouses, York.