CITY planners are really missing a trick.

Their proposals for a revamped rail station are a lot of expenditure for very little gain when the scheme could and should be much more.

This is a unique opportunity to once and for all have a bus/rail/taxi hub, like most towns and cities less used than our beautiful city.

I suggest planners do what I did and ask Stephen Lewis for very studious and well researched plans submitted by reader Alan Robinson, then actually study them.

The outer station could house 13 bus bays (adjacent to the station) with a possibility of adding a further seven, ample for York.

I hope for once the planners will get in touch with Mr Robinson and actually listen to his logical ideas.

I suspect pride will prevent this and another golden opportunity of a bus station missed yet again for many more decades.

Councillors please take note.

William Moore,

Lochrin Place, York

Solution to problem over appointments

Recently my thoughts turned to the problem of getting an appointment to see a doctor.

I haven’t actually been seen by a doctor for at least two years, probably more.

I wondered if some sort of system might be considered whereby those who have not been seen by their doctor for a period of time might be given some sort of priority when they do need to.

On the basis that I do not bother the doctor unless I really feel it absolutely necessary, then I feel it should follow that when I am unwell, I should be given an early appointment.

I envisage that this could easily be managed by the doctor’s receptionist, who on receiving a request for an appointment, looks at the patient’s records (which I assume they must do anyway), notes that they have not been seen say in the last 12 months, then allocates the earliest appointment available.

I seem to remember at one stage an annual checkup was available for those over a certain age, but that does not seem to apply now. Perhaps that is also something which might be brought back into use?

This seems to me something that could easily be implemented at no extra cost, and may also have the benefit of reducing unnecessary visits to overworked doctors.

L Kemp,

Wasdale Close, York

Askham Bog area must be protected

ON behalf of many a resident and their dogs in Woodthorpe, could the council please tell the developers proposing 500 new houses next to Askham Bog where to go.

It’s not enough to simply turn down these repeated applications by property development companies but to make it clear that repeated applications showing callous disregard for existing communities and the environment will count against them in future.

It’s time that we address the root cause of the housing crisis among many other issues affecting our urban areas.

Sir David Attenborough happens to be patron of Population Matters, a charity that among other things has called for zero net migration to the UK as they recognise the driving force behind our building expansion.

The idea is so simple, human beings cause damage to the environment so you limit that damage by keeping the population down.

Alas that contradicts the political dogma of too many politicians who think being politically correct will keep them in power and the property developers’ profits up.

Every community needs houses, roads, schools etc, but they also need green open spaces.

Askham Bog and the surrounding fields are Woodthorpe’s open green spaces, so leave them alone.

Dr Scott Marmion,

Woodthorpe, York