HAVING lived around this area all my life the shopping facilities have become almost extinct.

Going back to when I was a child the shops were as follows (from the junction of Melrosegate and Hull Road to Burlington and Harrington Avenue): two butchers, one newsagent, one off-licence, two grocers, one tobacconist.

Now there are eight takeaways in the area, not one place left open where you can do a daily shop.

There are quite a lot of pensioners in the area. I don't know how they manage, unless they walk to the Co-operative store in Tang Hall Lane, which itself is a good distance for a person with mobility problems.

There are too many takeaways. We need some sort of a supermarket or a convenience store to help the people in the area.

I would like to know if any other areas across York have the same problems.

Mr J Bonarius,

Rawdon Avenue,

Melrosegate,

York.

Updated: 10:22 Thursday, February 16, 2006