MAY I thank the planning department of City of York Council for its recent recommendation to block the siting of the Arts Barge at Skeldergate Bridge.

We have plenty of cultural centres/attractions in York without having to entice folk close to the dangers of the river.

This project was always financial a non-starter.

Who has the cash to spend on a wreck to refurbish and bring it up to an acceptable standard as a public venue?

Not many I know, how about you?

Can you imagine the discussion at the onset of the original idea? “Let’s call it an ‘arts barge’, because we won’t get any grants if we call it a floating bar.”

The council will be asked for grant after grant, along with similar grants from various sources.

When the whole project fails through lack of public support, drying up of funds and grants, who will the barge belong to?

Surely we have more pressing investments.

Please do not commit any more of your time and my council tax on this nonsense.

We don’t need a “buzz” or a sense of “new life” to York’s riverside.

David Room, Heworth, York