THERE is much discussion about what should or should not be in the centre of our city.

It seems that we have to be selling goods outdoors in order to attract visitors. Tourists come to York to enjoy the history, and the beautiful buildings, and the walls and the shops.

Other cities around the world have the vision to make their central areas attractive places. They have plazas with fountains and seasonal floral displays and atmospheric lighting.

Cannot we not have our only fountain brought back to life and some flower displays?

Our Christmas carousel adds colour and atmosphere to winter days and should remain where it has been for many years.

I am sure this would be more attractive to tourists than row upon row of temporary stalls which could be allocated space in the market area.

June Hardy, Nether Poppleton, York

 

WITH reference to A-boards in the city of York streets, they are a hazard to people who are either short-sighted, blind or elderly.

But there is a solution. Why not put a sign above the door of shops and cafes, outside above the premises, like they did in medieval days? Make sure you can see what is on offer to the public of York.

The pub signs were used years ago. People in those days used to manage, even though some of them could neither read nor write.

Barbara Pettitt, Rosemary Place, York

 

I TOTALLY disagree with Rachael Maskell, York Central Labour MP, in her support for allowing 16-year-olds to vote (Letters, 29 August). The vote is proposed in the forthcoming private member's bill by Labour MP Vicky Foxcroft and will go to Parliament on September 11.

I am all for encouraging young people to be engaged with politics, but 16 is far too young for them to be given this privilege. They are still at school and have played no responsible role in their lives or to society.

Maybe the cynic in me believes that some politicians may feel there may be some advantage for their party in all this. Voting is a huge responsibility on an individual and surely you have to have more life skills and experience than attending school – you need to understand how the country works (or doesn’t!).

Allowing 16-year-olds to vote would be decrying the years of bitter struggle, fight and imprisonment that Emiline Pankhurst and the suffragettes endured (under Winston Churchill as Home Secretary), and the death of Emily Davison who threw herself under the King’s horse to secure votes for women. It then took the Representation of the People (equal franchise) Act in 1928 to finally gave women full equality with men.

Handing the vote, willy nilly, to school children will not be good for democracy.

Keith Massey Bishopthorpe, York

 

I NOTE from The Press report (August 22) that the York NHS Trust management are yet again planning an attack on the terms and working conditions of some of its most poorly paid employees.

A member of management of the Trust states that “there might be changes to shift patterns” of the cleaning and domestic staff.

Oh please, come on, everybody nowadays knows that when management use that terminology it means either reduced hours, reduced employment or a cut in pay.

Management worldwide always attack the lowest paid because they think, wrongly, that they are less organised than professionals. But if it comes to strike action by them (which I hope it does not) then they have my word that I will support them.

I also hope that medical and nursing staff at the hospitals concerned give them support as without clean wards, hospitals would not be able to operate due to unacceptable hygiene conditions.

Cleaners and domestic workers are a core essential to the operational aspects of an efficient hospital and should be respected by management rather than forced into accepting worse conditions of pay and hours and shift patterns.

Howard Perry, St James Place, Dringhouses, York

 

ALL too often people complain about our hospital. Believe me, the way my husband has been treated is beyond reproach.

He had an appointment within two hours of his GP visit, resulting in investigation the same week. Now a Sunday morning telephone call arranging a further appointment the same week. We are so fortunate. Our thanks is immeasurable.

Name and address supplied Courses disguise the real jobless figures NETWORK Rail are asking young women to make a career in railway signalling (The Press, August 26). This is a very demanding job with long and unsocial hours, out in all weather.

My grandson did six months intense training in all aspects of maintenance and signalling work. He passed all aspects of the course, and gained a certificate, applied to all the rail companies and never got a reply. So what is the point?

The courses are another way for the Government to reduce the unemployment figures. Who foots the bill for this?

David Edge, Elmpark View, York

 

NOW we have belatedly been told St John University has pulled out of the Community Stadium, it is high time that this project was no longer referred to as a “community” facility.

Better still, pull the plug on this whole aberration and think again before even more damage is done and colossal debts accrued.

Matthew Laverack Lord Mayors Walk, York