Don’t push out all the great buskers (From York Press)

Don’t push out all the great buskers

9:57am Wednesday 25th July 2012 in Letters By Reader's letter

I WAS surprised reading your reporting of York’s new chocolate attraction’s application to put chairs in King’s Square that there was no mention made of the disastrous impact this will have on the high-quality street shows that have been taking place in the square for the past 30 years (The Press, July 20).

Since earliest times jugglers, fire breathers, magicians and the like have bought colour and spectacle to cathedral cities such as York. It is a proud tradition that offers excellent value for money and is one that draws people to our fair city with the economic benefits which that provides the population as a whole.

King’s Square is effectively the Covent Garden of the north. Continuum knew this when they bought the site. Some of the best street performers in the world have passed through that square and on one memorable occasion The Clash played there in a free lunch time concert.

The council, the bodies that claim to speak for York’s tourist industry and indeed The Press, should be getting behind the performers and offering them support. York needs another pavement café like it needs a hole in the head. There is only one King’s Square. It is unique. Do not destroy its special character.

Andy Pendle, Beresford Terrace, Bishopthorpe Road, York.