IT is sad but unsurprising that York’s festival of mediocrity trundles on without inspiration, ambition or solution as we fail to transform the York Central site into something special (Watchdog blasts York Central, The Press, September 29).

It is tempting to blame particular individuals or political parties but we’re all responsible: we all agree on our glorious past but are utterly unable to envision our future.

We argue about trivia: attacking younger entrepreneurs running businesses in old containers as examples of modernity gone mad; opposing double-glazing in old buildings; protecting individual trees rather than focusing on creating sustainable transport routes.

Instead of embracing our age’s challenges, as our forefathers did, our vision for York Central is a dreary housing estate that could as easily be in Leeds.

The Civic Trust are right to complain but, alas, they are part of the problem.

There is a new York waiting to emerge, a beautiful sustainable modern city built on a human scale around public transport.

A new city that co-exists happily with historic York, with new homes that cost £50 a year to heat.

To build it we must stop wallowing in our past, stop fantasising that we are unique, and make the effort to learn best practice from others.

Christian Vassie

Blake Court,

Wheldrake, York

Solution to ‘crazy’ idea on Marble Arch

Regarding the crazy idea of controlling traffic through Marble Arch with traffic lights, I am surprised that I have seen no mention of widening the arch by removing the inner footpath.

No-one I have discussed this with has used this particular route to pass through the arch, quoting noise, fumes or being puddle-splashed during wet weather.

A new pedestrian crossing on the city side (carefully timed so as not to delay traffic flow too much or cause a build-up of folk blocking the pavement) may be necessary and would show the walking route to the Railway Museum and beyond through the larger tunnel.

Mike Harrison,

Nether Poppleton, York