A COUNCILLOR says it beggars belief that York should turn its back on the Mystery Plays.

Coun Brian Watson called for developers wanting to fill the city's streets with flats and other developments to dig deep into their pockets to save the internationally-known attraction.

He also said he believed City of York Council should play its part in ensuring that the Plays are staged again in 2005.

Coun Watson is the first councillor to speak out following the Evening Press's revelation last week that the Plays will not be performed as expected in 2004 and may not be staged again until at least 2010.

Stressing that he was speaking in a personal capacity, he said he could not feel anything but sadness at the news.

"At this moment, the city is on the verge of dramatic change, with developers wishing to hide the jewels of the city behind vast facades of concrete," he said.

"And they are trying to tell us that people are more likely to visit our historic city if we have more places where they can rush in and buy a hot dog or some exotic-looking lava lamp.

"Am I on my own thinking that this City has more to offer than that? People don't rush to Venice or Paris to buy woolly socks.

"The Mystery Plays are part of our revised heritage, and are an internationally-known attraction. And after all the success and value to the economy they have brought to us, it beggars belief that we turn our backs on them.

"Even more, I was amazed to hear the church saying they had no territorial rights to the plays. When the church says such things about the stories of God what chance do we stand?

"May I suggest that those who want to fill our streets with huge blocks of flats and developments to overshadow our inheritance delve into their extra deep pockets to support the retaining of some thing that gives us pride in our city. Or is that asking too much?"

Meanwhile, other readers have continued to contact the paper to express their disappointment at the lack of a 2004 production. Sue Sykes, of Shipton, phoned to say the Plays should still be on every four years.

"Ten years means there is not enough opportunity to see them or for people to take part in them," she said.

"It is also important for tourism that they are every four years."

Updated: 08:58 Friday, June 20, 2003