THE final decision on the council’s new HQ reported in The Press (December 5) brings a welcome conclusion to this saga closer.

Hopefully, the final number of hoops to be negotiated will be completed and this Edwardian building (with additions) will be brought up to the 21st century requirements – £43.8 million should cover it.

The new HQ will share its main entrance with a five-star hotel, being the converted ex-North Eastern Railway headquarters. Presumably, the gates at one end of the short road will become permanently open instead of the obligatory opening required once a year as now?

The artist gives the impression of a spacious frontage No doubt the management of the five-star hotel will have had their say.

J Beisly, Osprey Close, York.


I, LIKE many residents, have followed the ups and downs on the progress of a new council HQ. The search is over and they have opted for West Offices.

This is great news for the council, and even better news for the residents of York, as now all the departments will come under the same umbrella. Now I wait and watch with avid interest that the deadline set is a three-year programme.

It sounds a very long time to instigate a move and a refurbishment, but it’s taken five years to agree on the site. I just want to be proved wrong and see the move happen within this time scale, but I fear this will not happen.

Gary Mitchell The Groves, York.