AT LEAST everyone can agree on one thing: the land around Clifford's Tower and Piccadilly is an eyesore and development is urgently needed.

From this point of consensus, views in York go in a number of directions, with some people believing the Eye of York should be turned into an open leisure area, while others back the proposed new retail development.

This issue, never far from the city's mind, is back in the headlines again today thanks to the intervention of Adam Sinclair, managing director of Mulberry Hall, the fine china store in Stonegate.

Mr Sinclair, whose views can be read in full in the letters column at the bottom of this page, attacks the latest scheme to expand the Coppergate Centre. He believes that the proposals could damage the city centre's existing retail heart, and further suggests that any new department store would be better placed across the city on the site of the former Co-op store, Victoria House.

In what may seem a technical point, Mr Sinclair also maintains that the proposed development would elongate York's linear retail development, by which he means there would be too many shops in a line rather than in a shopper-friendly circle.

Mr Sinclair stresses that he is speaking personally and not as chairman of the York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce retail committee. Such views are clearly deeply held, but we feel that there are strong counter arguments. For the Land Securities proposal would arguably give a tremendous boost to York's retail heart, strengthening the city against the pull of huge out-of-town shopping centres.

Planning restrictions in a city such as York can make it difficult for new shopping developments to fit in with existing buildings, and the scale of the Land Securities proposal should be a big draw to those who like to shop. Shopping is now one of our favourite pastimes, and York has to be able to offer the best shops around, alongside all the other cultural and historic attractions that together make up our vibrant and lively city.