IMAGINE the car park next to Clifford's Tower. Now imagine it with grass on. And a few trees, if you like. It didn't change very much did it? There's still that awful view of the back of Fenwicks and the Coppergate toilets, and there's still the noise and smell of the traffic on Tower Street.

Now let's add some people... there is no major route through the area so there would perhaps be some tourists and a few locals visiting the park.

Remember, the whole area is still only a fraction of the size of the Museum Gardens; it's overshadowed by large buildings and it's very flat. Not ideal for a park, I'm sure you'll agree.

And finally, if you're not going to let the Foss be used like a shopping street, then while you're standing by the Tower you'll be looking at the back of the new buildings on Piccadilly - and you'll have missed out on giving York a unique and very attractive, traffic-free feature.

The original scheme for Coppergate II included secure cycle storage.

Considering the advice I was given in a cycle shop earlier this week - that wherever you leave your bike in York, there's a good chance that some or all of it won't be there when you return - I hope it's still included in the plans. If the city is serious about being cycle-friendly, it could do something about the meandering obstacle course of cattle grids, narrow bridges, muddy puddles, nettles and pet dogs that calls itself a cycle route, along the Ouse to the north.

R Wilson,

Back Lane,

Newton-on-Ouse, York.