WE are writing with regard to the article about a planning application for a taxi office in Micklegate (October 1).

As frequent visitors to York, we have always been struck by the popularity of the city, both day and night, with visitors and locals alike. There are always lots of people in and around the city centre enjoying the pubs, clubs and other entertainment.

These people need to be able to get home easily and, as many have been drinking, they are unable to drive themselves. As public transport stops before the clubs close, there are always people needing to get home by taxi.

There is a real need for more taxis at night or in the early hours of the morning. To accommodate these people, York needs to have taxis easily accessible in places that are popular with night revellers, in areas that have popular night spots such as Micklegate.

It seems to us that actually having a taxi office in Micklegate, which offers people a quick accessible way home, is something which should be favoured rather than thrown out by the council.

Perhaps the council planning committee should go down Micklegate during its busy periods, at night, to get an idea what it is like before deciding. Taxis don't cause problems - it is the people who can't find them quickly enough or in the right places that do.

Mr and Mrs Nicholls,

Lynch Road,

France Lynch,

Stroud, Glos.

Updated: 11:22 Friday, October 07, 2005