MOST residents in Haxby will agree with Barbara Taylor's letter objecting to the proposed plans for the replacement of the memorial hall (July 26).

The proposed glass frontage with its extraordinary silhouette and roof-line would doubtless look extremely attractive on the south shore at Blackpool, but certainly not in the centre of a conservation area, mainly comprised of Victorian and Georgian brick-built properties.

Apparently the main interior walls are made of glass. Is this desirable? I do not imagine a group of people practising yoga would wish to pursue their exercise in the full public view. Mrs Amanda Nicholson, manager of the Haxby Playgroup, the main users, refers to the lack of security for young children in rooms with so many doors.

The trustees seem to be singularly out of touch with the realities of the village. The bus shelter immediately next to the memorial hall has had to have its shattered windows removed recently to avoid danger to the public. The two houses immediately nearby the hall have had to replace front windows because of damage done by air guns. The bus shelter across the road now has one pane missing because it has been smashed by hooligans, and the east window of the nearby church has been holed by air rifle pellets and was damaged when a brick was thrown through it.

What fun these hooligans could have with a plate-grass frontage.

The plans being shown in Haxby Library mention other options, without showing any details or plans. Nor is there any indication of the costs of the various options.

What the village needs to see is a series of plans of the alternative options with costings. Then we can make a sensible informed decision.

Dr Graham Turner,

Falcon Close,

Haxby, York.

Updated: 11:02 Saturday, July 30, 2005