The criticism of the York Civic Trust which has appeared lately in letters to The Press over the Monks Cross proposals is misplaced.

The most powerful forces in our society are working hard to provide people who enjoy driving through wrecked countryside to shop in a large shed with what they want. But it is simply not true that local people do not use, and care about, the centre of York.

It is difficult to get our voice heard against the property developers and chain-store operators who have such an influence on local politicians, but we do not live in a dictatorship and, so far, we are allowed to want to visit, shop and live in town centres which are lively and interesting places, especially if they contain as many old and beautiful buildings as York.

The job of the civic trust is to make sure our point of view is effectively represented in the debate about the future of York.

In my opinion the trust is doing it as well as possible.

Ann Holt, Portland Street, York.