Judging by the discussions being held behind the walls of the City of York Council (Site proposal for new city station, The Press, March 19), one would be forgiven for assuming that the planned opening of a city station at Haxby is now almost a foregone conclusion.

A preferred site has been chosen, millions in funding has been allocated, the train operator is being chatted up. Just the boring planning and public consultation bit to do, and then off we go.

It is easy to see why city strategy chief Coun Steve Galloway is so excited at the prospect. In a few years time people from far and wide will be able to drive into the heart of Haxby (rather than York), pay to park in the biggest car park Haxby has ever seen and catch a train to connect to anywhere in the UK and Europe.

Perhaps it really is time to stop pretending – once and for all – that Haxby station is destined to be part of some cosy local rail system.

David Farnsworth
Old Orchard, Haxby, York.