LET the children of Leeman Road area have their new school.

The new St Barnabas School has been talked about for 50 years. Now at last when the money has been found, emotive and spurious arguments are been used to try to stop it being built.

In 1944 I worked in Clifton signal box which looked down on this land between Cinder Lane and the river; the diving boards of the swimming club, the pond and the path from Lincoln Street to the ferry.

In 1962 I was elected councillor for Holgate Ward and lived on Leeman Road. Two of my children attended St Barnabas School.

One of my first tasks as representative of this area was to persuade the council to give money for fencing and top soil to cover and level from Scarborough Bridge to the back of Swinnerton Avenue. I have always been proud of the small part I played in giving York this lovely stretch of green from Clifton Bridge to Scarborough Bridge. The tip was mostly inert material, this was the age of the ash cart and dustbin and York had its incinerator on Foss Islands.

I'm afraid Mrs Dawson has got the wrong river, it is Foss Bank the old gas works that has the problems she mentions.

I rather like the idea that Leeman Road area should be called a village.

Honorary Alderman Reg Pulleyn,

Tang Hall Lane,

York.

Updated: 10:28 Friday, May 14, 2004