I TOOK a long look at the centre pages of The Press (A Difference of View, September 20) and feel some comment is called for.

Born and bred in York and now in my 80s I look back and think of how we loved our city and were proud to say: “This is where I live.”

When Stonebow came into being, I and many others viewed it with dismay. My present eyesore is the St John University building. As you travel down Gillygate we are faced with a huge wall. My first impression being that it looked like a prison. However, as you turn the corner it appears to be a hotchpotch of boxes placed at different angles.

Surely we are capable of improving an untidy corner in better ways and at the same time keep our view? But let me not forget that this is for the university, and we know that it takes precedence in our city, irrespective of the effect on its citizens.

I am not interested in architects and planners; they only love to please a few and themselves. My real fear is that some bright spark may one day decide to remove the daffodils from the walls.

B M Horsley, Raven Grove, York.