AT first glance I thought that Coppergate Riverside was okay. I was taken in by the St Mary's promotion.

However, now that I have followed the debate in your pages, I have changed my mind. I don't want fast-food burger restaurants next to Clifford's Tower.

In the plans the shops facing the Castle contain three large restaurants. With the huge floor space these units have been alloted, only fast-food outlets would take them up.

This is our land now and we have control over it. Once the council grants planning permission to Land Securities we will lose that control.

Surely this development cannot be allowed to go ahead.

John Jacoby,

Ambrose Street, York.

...ANY plan to improve a "shabby and rundown" area deserves the serious consideration of local residents ('Residents back £60m shops plan', August 2).

However, whether a scheme to turn a unique and historic location into yet another retail outlet for Department Store York is the solution is a moot point.

Maybe the residents should consider another "shabby and rundown" area of York - Rougier Street. This was once a thriving retail area until the supermarket closed down and the department store left.

As often the only tie between a shop and the local area is the shop's lease, conditions can thus easily change.

Richard Lamb,

Greystoke Road,

Rawcliffe, York.

...THE land between Clifford's Tower and the Foss should be left as an open space, probably as a grassed leisure area with trees, seats, pathways and a riverside walk.

This would greatly enhance the whole area rather than overpowering it with high buildings as presently proposed. Any development on the Piccadilly side of the river should be kept to a reasonable height in keeping with its surroundings.

There are other sites in York which are far more suited to retail development, an obvious one being the old Victoria House building and the old supermarket standing opposite it in George Hudson Street. These are a real eyesore, have already been retail sites and, in my opinion, should be redeveloped before any new areas are even considered.

At the very least York Civic Trust's suggestion of a public inquiry should be taken up so that all can have their say on this once-in-a-lifetime chance before we condemn the Clifford's Tower area to many years of obscurity.

J D Hornby,

Stabler Close,

Wigginton, York.

...I BELIEVE that a re-development of the area is important but I have two concerns about the current proposals.

The volume of new retail space is in excess of the city's needs and will cause further problems for marginal areas of the current retail area.

The proposed development still impinges too closely upon Clifford's Tower. In addition, if the development continues we will lose the potential for an attractive open area in front of the tower.

Approval should only be given to a smaller development situated predominantly on the land beside Piccadilly.

Michael Hjort,

Melton's Restaurant, York.