Why is the Foss such a mess? (From York Press)

Why is the Foss such a mess?

9:48am Tuesday 7th February 2012 in Letters By Reader's letter

THE River Foss that runs through York may have had its origins in the Latin word for ‘ditch’, but today it resembles more of an open sewer.

Why has the city allowed this perfectly pleasant waterway to become so derelict, with the banks and shallows strewn with litter, and walls of buildings that border it despoiled with graffiti?

Rowntree Wharf, a landmark building, is within the city walls and the pathways around it should be an attraction, but it’s a wasteland. The authorities have a perfectly good boat dedicated to clearing this waterway, yet it lies idle for weeks on end.

My pictures reproduced here show the Wharf in the summer showing its attractiveness, with detail from the river banks today.

Howard Peters, Rowntree Wharf, York.