IN HIS letter of January 29, David Quarrie paints a very poor picture of Acomb.

I agree that many businesses have closed, but we still have some very good ones left, including chemists, travel agents, banks, florists, butchers and clothing shops, as well as a good supermarket and also a large free car park. If we are to keep these shops, we must use them. The more shops there are, the more others will be encouraged open up.

Acomb Alive has worked very hard with the council to improve the area. We had a wonderful display of Christmas trees on many of the buildings at Christmas and new seating has been installed.

If Mr Quarrie has any other good ideas on how to improve things, I am sure he would be very welcome to any of the Acomb Alive meetings.

Jennifer Summersgill, Odels, Front Street, Acomb, York.

 

• I READ with interest the letters from David Quarrie (January 29) and Sue Hunter (January 31), regarding the decline of Acomb.

Unfortunately it’s a vicious circle: traders won’t open shops in Acomb as its dirty and run down – and shoppers don’t visit as there are only a handful of decent shops left.

Perhaps if the shopkeepers took a bit of pride in their shop fronts it might go some way to making the street look better.

Despite their best efforts, Acomb Alive are failing. Yes the Christmas lights and trees in Green Lane did look pretty; it’s just a pity about the fish and chip papers and general rubbish in the gutters – and what’s the point of putting new benches on filthy, cracked pavements at the side of the road which has practically no surface left on it?

Like Mr Quarrie, I have also lived in Acomb all my life and like him I can see the decline which has been happening for a long time; but does the area have to look so filthy?

I suggest Acomb Alive take a walk down Bishopthorpe Road and have a look at the shops there because that’s how Acomb used to look years ago.

PM Batey, Gladstone Street, Acomb, York.