HAS anyone seen the condition of Bootham Stray, which is freeman’s land looked after by the council?

Looked after is not the word that should be used, neglected does not even describe it, a complete disgrace is more apt. You have to see it to believe it.

I have correspondence dated back to 2004, when I first raised my concerns with the appropriate department in the council.

Those concerns were that instead of taking the cattle off in the winter and returning them in spring, they were left on not for one winter but for the past five winters.

As a consequence, anyone who looks over the gate will not see a grass field. What they will see is a field of churned-up mud and, if they cared to try walking on the so-called field, they would find it almost impossible.

Last year, councillor Ken King and the head of the appropriate department from the council came round the fields with me and, despite promises to put things right, the cattle are still on and the fields are still a disgrace.

Just how the council will put things back to an acceptable standard, I cannot imagine, because not only do the fields need rest they also need restorative work on a large scale.

Finally, when put right, whoever rents the fields should be contracted from April to October as it was when things were run right.

Then those of us who use to walk on Bootham Stray could do so again and enjoy it. Not much to ask for is it?

M Cammidge, Clifton, York.

A City of York Council spokeswoman, said:

“We are aware of Mr Cammidge’s concerns and asked the tenant to remove the cattle earlier this year to allow the grass to re-establish. We are working with the tenant to improve the area and are planning to carry out some remedial repairs when the weather improves.

“The new contract prohibits the tenant from grazing cattle on the area during the winter months.”