Evening Press readers' letter

I am writing in support of the council's reported proposal to reintroduce admission charges to the City Art Gallery. There is no reason why, in a democratic middle-income society, which wishes to keep taxes low, people should not be asked to pay, as happens in the rest of the EC.

At the same time it is quite extraordinary that this is being done in defiance of the New Labour government's policy by a Labour 'flagship' council that congratulated itself at removing charges in 1986. It is also strange given the council's claims to 'listen to the public' there has been no prior consultation, particularly with the committee representing the 600 members of the Friends of York City Art Gallery.

David Alexander,

South Parade,

York.

...Art galleries, however broad their appeal, are not for everyone. I doubt if those who crave novelty or find "there are more interesting things to be done" (Letters, February 5) can be classified as potential visitors to York Art Gallery.

Even if they read nothing but crime reports, potential visitors will know that the permanent collection is one of the finest in the county. The steadily growing number of visitors who take advantage of the Wednesday lunch-time talks in the gallery would seem to refute both Paul Vittles' statistics, and his view that astute tourists equate what is free with what is rubbish.

The economic value of a public service cannot be judged like that of the market stall. The prestige and goodwill engendered has a commercial value to the community far greater than can be reckoned by turnstile takings.

As far as the Art Gallery is concerned, the council knows that charges deter visitors. One must suspect that the aim of introducing charges is not to promote appreciation of art or to make art more profitable, but to fleece tourists in order to finance council extravagance.

William Dixon Smith,

Welland Rise,

Acomb, York.

...One way to keep the public enthusiastic and motivated is not only by parents and school teachers gently guiding children to go visit art galleries, but also allowing such a facility to be free of charge. Once bitten and stimulated, art becomes infectious.

Miss Gardein,

Third Avenue, Heworth,

York.

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