AS the saying goes “What goes around comes around”.

News that developers are considering converting the redundant office block that is Ryedale House into residential accommodation is welcomed, although we do wonder why it has taken so long to come to this point.

This option was discussed with council officers as long ago as 2001 and detailed proposals were later prepared and submitted at the Coppergate Public Enquiry, showing how the block could provide some 70 apartments with the top floor removed to make it less dominant in relation to the listed buildings nearby.

Allied to this was our proposal to turn the area around Clifford’s Tower into a public park with possible underground parking and a bridge over the Foss, strongly resisted by the council at the time.

Let’s hope that the council’s “Southern Gateway” ideas don’t take another 10 years before we see a result.

Philip Crowe, Chairman “York Tomorrow”, Clifton, York.