YORK'S first entirely non-smoking pub, Brigantes Bar and Brasserie, opens in Micklegate today.

But one reader is unconvinced of the benefits.

"Although I've never smoked in my life and I'm passionate about breathing clean air," begins Chris Wood, of Portland Street.

"I am afraid that, over the past few months - and with increasing experience of drinking in smoke-free bars - I'm not going to support all this 'no smoking in pubs' business.

"Apart from the therapeutic relief dead smoky air brings hay-fever sufferers in summertime, the smoke in most of the pubs I drink in is there for a reason.

"It camouflages the smell from the Gents'.

"It may be between the devil and the deep blue sea, but I can name a dozen York pubs where the reek of a dozen Capstan Full Strength is sheer bliss compared with the dark and evil stenches that writhe from the genito-urinary hellhole out the back..."

LAST week the Diary revealed that City of York Council had set aside £500,000 to pay for its case at the public inquiries into the Derwenthorpe and Germany Beck housing estates and the university expansion.

Sounds like a lot? Not a bit of it, says one of the objectors.

"In your account, you quite omitted to mention the most costly weapon in the council's armoury for the pending battle, that is retention of the services of a Queen's Counsel with whom to bash obstinate objectors into submission.

"The chosen individual was present at the pre-inquiry planning a week ago, and must already have used up at least half a day's worth of that £500,000 you identify.

"And if that is the total sum intended to pay for all the inquiries, you have to wonder whether it will be enough.

"After all, this council is not noted for its capacity to gauge accurately the depth of feelings aroused by some of its choice decisions and, therefore, to estimate the length of time needed for them to be fully expressed.

"Think of the Barbican scheme, remember Coppergate.

"A poor start in prediction was demonstrated when the pre-inquiry meeting was so well attended by officers, men in suits and objectors that it had to be uplifted from Committee Room 3 in the Guildhall to the council chamber.

"Here, the room was filled almost to capacity - though the public gallery remained largely empty because no one knew how to get into it."

Adds our mole: "We must hope the organisers of the impending inquiries will take note of this indicator and amend accordingly their predictions of how much time and money will need to be set aside to allow a full and fair expression of the views of all parties."

WHAT should we do with former York nightclub Ikon and Diva?

The city council has given permission for it to be turned into a furniture or DIY store, while several letter writers argue it should become a skating rink.

But this cuts no ice with a colleague. "It should be an Ikea," she insists.

"And you would only have to change one of the letters."

Updated: 10:50 Monday, February 13, 2006