IN your coverage of the Green Party response to the Castle Piccadilly planning brief (October 12) you reported that we had called for the inclusion of the White Swan Hotel. Councillor Galloway is quoted as saying it could not be included in the planning brief.

In fact, the White Swan is already included in the brief. I would refer Councillor Galloway to Map 2, showing the White Swan clearly in the "area covered by the brief", or paragraph 4.35 which reads "Retail activity in Piccadilly is currently reduced by the long-term vacancy of the White Swan. It is important to intensify the use of this corner into Piccadilly creating attractive retail frontages at ground-floor level."

It is criminal that the building's owner should leave the building empty and unused. We have hostels that are full, and are considering consuming more of the earth's resources to build more faceless shopping units near Clifford's Tower.

As for Coun Galloway's comments about there being more performance venues than actors, I thought we were aiming to be a "City of Festivals" - perhaps the Lib Dems will swell the number of actors with their wheelie bin pantomime?

Coun Andy D'Agorne,

York Green Party,

Broadway West, York.

Updated: 10:16 Saturday, October 15, 2005