THE council working in partnership with business to bring Hiscox and hundreds of jobs to York is a coup for the city that should be welcomed.

Hiscox coming to the Hungate site and improving this area of the city should be equally as welcomed.

Hiscox, along with the possible redevelopment of Stonebow House and progress on housing developments, gives us a unique opportunity to improve this entrance into the city.

Therefore it is only right that we should consider investing in the public environment along this corridor for the benefit of residents, employees and visitors (The Press, April 27).

For many years under the Liberal Democrats, the city was starved of investment in our public environment. It is therefore disappointing they still would like such a policy to continue – ruling out repair and renewal.

It is even more disappointing that they take umbrage against this £175,000 investment when they wasted £1m of council taxpayer’s money on the aborted new council HQ at Hungate. Instead they left Hungate derelict. Labour is putting this mess right.

Cllr James Alexander, Labour Leader of City of York Council.