Simple solution for Clifton Green (From York Press)

Simple solution for Clifton Green

11:53am Monday 6th February 2012 in Letters By Reader's letter

YOUR correspondent KA Roworth (Letters, January 25) suggests that cutting back the hedges at Clifton Green which encroach on the footpath would provide sufficient space, with the removal of the cobbles, for a filter lane for cars and room for cyclists.

This is too simple for the city council to understand.

I raised this with the director of city strategy more than two years ago, but the initial response was this would spoil the appearance of the conservation area.

I pursued this through various stages of the council’s complaints procedure and eventually received a letter stating the residents had been written to requiring them to trim back the hedges.

As this did not happen, I made a formal complaint to the local government Ombudsman. When he asked the city council for a copy of these letters it transpired that they had never been sent.

I sent a copy of my correspondence to my local Clifton councillor, but received no acknowledgement.

The city was better served when we had a town clerk and city engineer and the councillors were all volunteers, unpaid and not interested in their allowance or political advancement.

GAW Heppell, Rawcliffe Lane, York.