RICHARD Akers of Land Securities claims that the revised Coppergate Riverside scheme is a "sustainable development designed to be in harmony with the ecology of this important site" (May 25).
Maybe Mr Akers would like to explain his definition of the terms "sustainable development" and "ecology" because the whole project cannot conceivably be regarded as environmentally sound. A bit of landscaping hardly qualifies.
I may be wrong and maybe we will be shown how material from the demolished buildings will be reused.
Maybe we will see only "green" building materials used in the construction of the new buildings.
Maybe the buildings will have minimal energy use, with energy provided from "green" power sources.
Maybe the large number of extra people that need to be attracted to the city to make the new businesses pay without harming existing businesses will arrive by train or on cycles.
Maybe I will see pigs flying over Clifford's Tower.
Dr Richard Firn,
Stockton Lane, York.
...WITH reference to the new proposed plans for the Coppergate development, no-one would deny that the derelict buildings backing onto the River Foss are in urgent need of tidying up and the riverside walk being made more attractive, but we fully share the concerns of York traders.
Why do we need more retail developments when there are so many properties in the town centre which are empty and have been allowed to fall into a state of neglect and dereliction?
One only has to look at the eyesore that is George Hudson Street, and that is not the only area. What sort of impression must that make on the visitors who walk past it every day?
We agree with Dave Dee; on warm days people sit on the grass area of the Eye of York (not to mention the banks of Clifford's Tower) in their hundreds, so why not create a park with trees, benches perhaps some picnic tables and a tea kiosk?
It would enhance the area and leave the beautiful old buildings to be seen to their best advantage. We doubt that this idea will be even considered however, knowing how the sight of an open area of greenery is anathema to this council.
P Witlea,
S Astubry,
De Grey Place,
Bishopthorpe, York.
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