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WITH reference to the proposed new York council HQ, this would be £40 million for a so-called futuristic building, on a site which should have been devoted to the provision of a much-needed leisure centre, such as that enjoyed by the taxpayers of Darlington over the last 20 years.

The latter amenity is centrally situated, two minutes walk from the indoor market, which allows parents to deposit their offspring to go swimming, play badminton, squash, indoor football, etc, while they do their shopping.

Now that a redesign is being considered, can the council inform us why the architect was asked to design a building which will clash aesthetically with the two large adjacent Government offices?

Surely a straight copy of that architect's design would have been adequate for something as utilitarian as an office block. The claim that it will incorporate "green" features should not require the building to look futuristic. In fact, most citizens would prefer a council office to look like a place of work, not a five-star hotel.

Incidentally, one would have thought if the council intended to make a "green" statement this would be on the understanding that a generous contribution toward the total cost would be forthcoming from the Government.

On the subject of choice of site, while I agree that the office could be located at one of the Park&Ride sites, it could also easily be incorporated in one of the blocks within the older Rowntree buildings when these are converted to "other use".

My favoured alternative, however, is a building such as that which Shepherds built within their own factory and installed within a few months on Jockey Lane. On reflection, why not also build it on Jockey Lane, which is handy for the Monks Cross shopping centre, stadium and water fun building?

J Jones, Rawcliffe Lane, York.

I READ with great interest the letter from Mike Jones, regarding his idea over the former Vickers Instruments site on Haxby Road, (Ideal site, May 3).

This area would be ideal for the council HQ. Plenty of room to build on, instead of the Hungate site, it has good connections for bus travel and ideal cycle path, in nearby New Earswick.

It would save a lot of money building on the Hungate site, so maybe we could have a swimming pool in the centre of York, which is more convenient for residents and visitors.

B Pettitt, Rosemary Place, Navigation Road, York.

10:04am Thursday 8th May 2008

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