'Don't bother visiting York – it is a muck hole with fag ends, litter and weeds'

A York resident has branded the city a "muck hole", claiming litter, weeds and cigarette ends are blighting streets

Our letter writer bemoans a 'dirty' York where cigarette ends and litter spoil the visitor experience. What is your view.jpeg <i>(Image: Archive)</i>

(Image: Archive)

York branded 'muck hole' over litter and weeds

I HAD the misfortune to have to go into town last week.

I 'debussed' at the concrete wasteland in front of the train station (not impressed) and walked through to Micklegate via Rougier Street.

The state of Rougier Street was unbelievable.

Litter and fag ends everywhere. It had not been swept for months.

Seeing this mess made me take greater notice of the other streets I had the misfortune to need to traverse. Muck and filth were everywhere. The street cleaning gangs that used to clean the streets have obviously gone. Weeds grow prolifically everywhere, and they help to harbour the litter.

Seeing this mess made me realise why I go into town as infrequently as possible preferring to obtain my needs in surrounding towns (or Amazon).

People come to see York. I always tell them it is a 'muck hole', don't bother. They will be very disappointed.

Just wondered if York council is ever going to clean the area for which it is responsible – anytime soon?

D A Brown,

Brockfield Road,

Huntington,

York

Thanks for supporting our Palestinian fundraiser

I AM writing to thank everyone supporting our recent Social Fundraiser for Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), which has already raised over £1,800.

The Methodist Church in Haxby made us very welcome and a team of home cooks created a wonderful spread.

We are very grateful to our local artists who donated their works to be auctioned.

Our guest speaker Zahra Yassine spoke with passion about the life saving work of MAP including projects with young people in Ramallah in occupied Palestine, and in Gaza delivering food and immunisation programmes for children at risk.

Donations to the appeal are still very welcome: www.justgiving.com/page/sue-cooke-1

Sue Cooke,

Smithie Close,

New Earswick,

York

Thoughts on the news

CONGRATULATIONS to Kemi Badenoch, the only party leader in the conference season to make a speech consisting of logic, common sense, plus a dose of financial reality.

Concerning the economic state of the nation, even for those basically illiterate on finance, one salient fact of life which is totally unsustainable and cannot continue, unless Labour don't realise the consequences of bankruptcy (and I don't think they do), is since they have been in power tax revenue is less than the cost of welfare with the gap widening by the million.

Royal Mail has announced it will shed 2,500 head office jobs in 2027, which begs the obvious question, what do these people do today which will be no consequence next year.

Peter Rickaby,

Moat Way,

Brayton