WE WOULD like to thank Jane Cullen, founder and chair of West Bank Park Heritage Project, and her team for organising the public meeting we attended. There were more than 100 attendees from the community and it was great to see Holgate people galvanised in community action.

West Bank Park was the family home of James Backhouse, a 19th century botanist, nursery owner and Quaker missionary. Backhouse Nurseries stretched from where the park is now, westwards to Acomb and was one of the most significant nurseries in the north of England.

We look forward to supporting the group Improve West Bank Park in anyway we can and we hope to see even more residents become engaged and involved.

Councillor James Alexander, Councillor Sonja Crisp, Councillor Joe Riches, Labour Councillors for Holgate ward, City of York Council.