I OBJECT strongly to the proposed Monks Cross development on the following grounds:

1) Worldwide, out-of-town shopping is recognised as the largest factor in the demise of town/city shopping, and should this development be given the go-ahead, it would have a huge detrimental effect on our city centre

2) In York, we have more than enough out-of town-shopping at Monks Cross, the Designer Outlet and Clifton Moor… when and where will it end?

3) As an avid York City supporter, I (along with most fans) simply catch the bus into town and walk to Bootham to watch the match. The new proposed ground at Monks Cross would mean that having to travel to the matches by car, thus cutting right across the council’s resolve to reduce traffic

4) Bootham Crescent should instead be improved to accommodate future needs.

The planning department in York badly got it wrong with allowing the Hungate development (which is starting to resemble Benidorm/Magaluf/Tenerife) within the city walls, so do not continue to blight this wonderful historic city with more questionable approvals.

Brian L Alston, Fulford, York.

• YORK GREEN Party supports the Campaign for York, established to fight for York’s city centre. This is a non-party political campaign, but we are proud to be part of it.

Doubling the size of the retail space at Monks Cross will damage the centre. Numerous studies have shown the harm caused by large out-of-town developments. The Merry Hill shopping centre in the West Midlands led to a 12 per cent drop in rental levels in surrounding towns, with more boarded-up shops and fewer independent retailers. Doncaster, Exeter and Sheffield can tell similar stories.

We are not suggesting that tourists will stop coming to York because of Monks Cross II; we are suggesting that our city centre is not just for tourists. Monks Cross II will make life especially hard for residents who live in or near the centre and do not have access to a car. York has a growing number of vacant sites, such as on Walmgate and Hungate, and doesn’t need more.

York Green Party is delivering thousands of leaflets advertising a public meeting about Monks Cross II. This will be held on Monday, November 28 at Tempest Anderson Hall, Museum Gardens. All are welcome. Please arrive by 5.45pm.

Owen Clayton, York Green Party.