I READ with great disappointment about Laura Ashley vacating their city centre shop.

I see this as a particular loss to shopping York, but what really upsets me is why it has had to leave to facilitate yet another restaurant-come-drinking establishment, especially in the area where it is located.

I have fought for the control of licensed premises there for a long long time.

The planning application was won on appeal, but knowing that it was in the cumulative impact zone (a protection against more drinking establishments in an overloaded area) which is achieved basically with a police order, when it went before licensing many councillors were confident it would be refused on a police recommendation.

For reasons unknown to us, the police did not object. In fact the police commissioner replied to my query about this by saying the licensing authority was a responsible authority in its own right.

This is a situation the council must get under control to protect our city-centre residents before we just become a city of drinking establishments. Please note: this is not an anti-public house letter; it is anti establishments making irresponsible profit from selling alcohol.

Cllr Brian WJE Watson, Independent, Guildhall ward, City of York Council.