AS somebody who grew up in York in the late 1960s, it is interesting to come back and see how things have changed, or have they?

I cannot believe the state of the fountain in Parliament Street and the fuss surrounding it. The people I know in York and strangers too would fix something if it was broken and in all the conversations I have had that is what we all want.

All great cities have working fountains, the Trevi in Rome has a song and movie in which it features, Grant Park in Chicago has the Buckingham – a splendid fountain, Millennium Park has an amazing splash pad.

What would Piccadilly Circus be without Eros on New Year’s Eve? Princess Di has a great garden with water in Hyde Park with a strict warning sign “adults not allowed unless accompanied by a child”.

What have we in York? No decision and after how many years? I suggest the council save up to restore the fountain to full working order by not building speed bumps.

How many extra fountains could the city have had by not wasting time and money on the wonderful Lendal Bridge traffic scheme?

Let’s not be too judgemental as the dull people who would flatten the fountain must have their say too.

I just hope they don’t take five years to choose a suitable memorial stone.

John Zimnoch, The Village, Osbaldwick, York