I WRITE in support of the letter (The Press, July 8) with regard to a bandstand in Parliament Street to replace the fountain.

Dating back to the fountain being built, people used to put soap into it, causing foam to spill over the fountain.

Going back to 1988, I asked the late Rod Hills about a bandstand to allow our guest band visiting at weekends somewhere to put their clothes and instrument cases under cover.

These were just laid on the ground outside the old Splash Palace.

Surely this could be done in memory of Mr Bradbury, the fine gentleman who was the brains behind the bands coming to our city.

The carol concert each December is still playing to a full house in the care of his son, Graham, and daughter Carol, raising money for the Lord Mayor’s Fund.

I do feel the family would be proud.

If not, in memory of my loving husband, Alderman Bernard Bell, Lord Mayor 1992-3, Sheriff 1991-2, 1998-9, who died December 28, 2014.

Doris Bell, Ullswater, Woodthorpe, York

 

WATCHING BBC Breakfast, I noted with interest a beautiful fountain bubbling away in the background of a report.

Where was the report coming from? Athens!

If they can manage to fund a fountain with all their worries, surely York could bring our Parliament Street fountain back to life and once more make it a focal point on this main thoroughfare.

Margaret Wright, Temple Road, Bishopthorpe, York

 

WHEN I first moved to York, I was baffled by the absurdity of the Exhibition Square fountain, piddling away aimlessly: a perfect example of function without purpose, a nothingness devoid of beauty or significance.

The fountain in Parliament Street is, in its own particular way, far worse. Though equally devoid of beauty or significance, it was, like the unlamented “Splash Palace”, wilfully dumped there with the hopeful aim of enhancing the “York experience”.

Like Kings Square, it demonstrates our planners’ unfailing choice of the inappropriate. I suspect it was bought in as a manager’s special offer from a local garden centre.

Both fountains should be removed and the areas, preferably, paved over.

Why is it that whenever there is a clear space in York our planners want to plonk something in it?

However, if residents insist on a focal point, let it be something beautiful: a sculpture for instance. I might suggest something by Sally Arnup, which I am sure children would love if consulted.

William Dixon Smith, Welland Rise, Acomb, York