AS CABINET member Dave Merrett welcomes my feedback on King’s Square (letters 12 December), I will happily give him some more. Together with thousands of other residents, I do not agree that the previous paving was “tired and dated”.

I certainly don’t regard the new billiard-table surface as a “significant improvement” but a costly design error which has not “reinvigorated” the area but ruined it. The essential character of the square has been lost.

Also, I find the continuing criticism of the 1970s paving work as a means of justifying the current scheme to be deplorable.

It is a slur on the reputation of previous council officers who went to great lengths to ensure the design and materials of the hard surfaces then installed were in keeping with this historic city. The argument about “reinforcing paving foundations to avoid future deterioration” is spurious.

Even if it was accepted that the sub-base needed upgrading, this did not prevent the entirely appropriate previous flags, setts and cart-tracks from being re-laid.

I can see only two things going for the revamp. One is that it can be put forward as an “achievement” of the Labour administration; the second is that pavement café tables will be less likely to wobble. For £500,000 I would rather it was left alone.

John Jones, Sand Hutton, York.
 

• SEEING 2,000 people have opposed the work in King’s Square, does the council not realise what dreadful damage is being done to our city?

As for the excuse of litigation, I suppose the next step will be tearing up the paths and road in Shambles.

The council says that King’s Square looked “cluttered” previously. It was not cluttered, just ancient and beautiful, along with other parts of our city that dare not be mentioned in case the council decides to unclutter them.

What we citizens really want are proper refuse collections, salt bins and rubbish bins.

Wendy Blanchard, Huntington Road, York.