I AM a member of Nestl Rowntree Athletics Club which trains twice a week at Huntington Stadium.

I am very concerned that Huntington Stadium was being offered to York City Football Club and that the removal of the running track is being considered.

This facility is the only one in North Yorkshire. There are up to 300 young people in our club, catering for all ages and abilities.

If the track were to be removed, the nearest alternative would be South Leeds Stadium, which already provides for a large number of people.

York should have its own athletics track.

Without the track at Huntington Stadium, athletics in York, especially for the young, would suffer badly.

This would be the loss of another centre for sport in the city, cutting the number of sports facilities we have available. Young people will have less opportunity to take part in physical activity and there would be more potential for youths to be roam the streets, as there would be less for young people to do.

The track is not only used by Nestl Rowntree AC on club training nights, but also in the summer months for competitions and schools events.

Without the track there would be no venue for these events. Surely events of this status should be run at Huntington Stadium?

I wish to see the continuance of York City Football Club, but I do not feel that the removal of the track at Huntington Stadium is the answer.

Another solution must be found, incorporating the track into the planning would make it a multi-functional venue which is more likely to succeed financially.

Alice Bean, aged 15

Wetherby Road,

York.

Updated: 10:08 Saturday, March 22, 2003