IT appears the right balance has been achieved for the Castle scheme by Regan Miller Associates, aided by Martin Burgess and Eric Jackson.

The artist's impression of the Castle Quarter (July 6) must please those who voted for open space and sensitivity around Clifford's Tower, also those who wanted to see Piccadilly developed.

I notice there are no large buildings on the west bank of the Foss, which is commendable, from the artist's impression the new scheme has obviously been designed by people who value its historic importance and love the city enough so as not to destroy it.

If this scheme were to go through, then the door would be open for City Of York Council to develop the west side of the Ouse with a department store and car park (the old Co-op site and supermarket site opposite are big enough for both).

While I have not had sight of the leaflet outlining the scheme, I congratulate Regan Miller Associates on what appears to be a superb alternative development.

Pauline Wallis,

Castle Side, Sheriff Hutton, York.

...RATHER than an exhibition of artists' impressions of new Coppergate schemes (Comment, July 6), let's have one of the Castle area as depicted by artists in the past. The City Art Gallery's topographical collection holds eye-opening impressions of how lovely the area between Clifford's Tower and the Foss used to be.

To show the aspirations for this area from the 1930s (much of it still designated in the adopted Local Plan as land for civic, cultural and other special uses), the council could open its planning archives to show past proposals: the Castle-Hungate plans of the Thirties; the 'south park' development of the Forties (with Piccadilly as the 'tree-lined boulevard' of the Castle Quarter proposal); the Castle Museum's Folk Park plan from the Fifties, and much else.

The University's Department of Archaeology, which has undertaken studies of the area for developers and English Heritage, could provide the exhibition's commentary.

Impartiality towards all the current proposals could be assured by ending at 1991 with the Castle-Piccadilly planning brief, which acknowledges the international importance of this sensitive area.

Keith Daggett,

Ouse Lea, York.

Updated: 10:39 Tuesday, July 10, 2001