WITH the approval of Monks Cross stadium, this could be an opportunity for the centre of the city to really come into its own.

It would require our councillors to start thinking outside the box and implement some revolutionary ideas and policies.

Alas over the past few years, they do not show any sign of innovation or courageous decision-making. I believe that the centre of York is capable of blowing Monks Cross and others out of the water. John Lewis is just another department store, not the Messiah. York city centre is unique but remains unexploited.

Council needs to have the willingness to exploit our unequalled environment. I think the enthusiasm for the Monks Cross development will recede when shoppers are constantly stuck in gridlocked traffic. For those interested, my ideas are available for the usual consultancy fees!

JR Stone, Southolme Drive, York.

• THE outline plan for the Monk’s Cross development has been approved by the City council without recommendation from the city’s planning committee (The Press, May 18).

Presuming the Secretary of State has no objection, detailed plans will now be prepared and submitted to the previously undecided planning committee.

Several ambitious developments have fallen on the way through this planning process – Hungate, the Barbican – as the many requirements of interested parties were considered by the committee.

It has been said that the stadium could be completed and available to the football and rugby in three years.

Maybe John Lewis, M&S and others can also expect this forecast. It can be asked whether the lesser but just as important firms can wait that long?

J Beisly, Osprey Close, York.

• IN The Press of May 17 it states that the city planning officials have recommended to the council that they turn down an application for a small expansion to the Monks Cross shopping park on the grounds that “it would have a significant adverse impact on the city centre”.

Are these the same city planning officials who ducked out of their responsibilities when it came to making a recommendation on the much larger scheme for the community stadium and associated shops? If so, I wait to see what action is taken against them for not doing what we pay them to do.

In view of this council’s track-record on taking the public opinion into consideration, I have devised a master plan. In future, whenever the public have to vote for anything or express their views on anything controversial, they should vote no if they want it and yes if they don’t because this council will do exactly the opposite, as they did on Union Terrace Car Park, Clifton Green cycle lane, Beckfield Lane tip and the Community Stadium.

AP Cox, Heath Close, Holgate, York.

• IT’S NO wonder York’s councillors have given the green light for the Monks Cross development when nine out of 16 are Labour councilors and all nine said ‘yes’. No democracy there then, which is no surprise.

D Wardell, Malton Road, York.