‘York in Broom’: Call for award to tackle 'muck hole' city
RE: The Press letter 'York could be cleaner’. Mr D A Brown’s letter of October 10, alarmingly entitled ‘York branded “muck hole” over litter and weeds’ highlighted this perennial problem.
Over the decades the cleanliness and tidiness of York’s streets has been an issue with periodic flurries of letters to the Press. The exponential growth in tourism and a city centre dominated by cafes, restaurants and bars will have added to the problem.
It would help if all city centre shops, businesses and ‘eateries’ took care of their own frontage, pavement and surrounds on a regular basis and not just as a ‘flash in the dustpan’.
Amongst businesses showing a good example in times past were Barbican Bookshop in Fossgate and Pickerings’ Bookshop in Shambles where staff swept, cleaned and swilled the pathways and roundabout, each morning before opening.
No doubt some current establishments do the same.
It would be good if more joined them in caring for their bit.
It needs a concerted and consistent effort.
Such practice, if widespread, would surely help the council which appears stretched in this department and also enhance the city’s reputation.
The Press might consider an annual competition and award for the smartest, weed-free and cleanest shop front and ‘walkway’. Call it ‘York in Broom’ if you like.
Middlethorpe Drive,
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FURTHER to D A Brown's recent letter, I agree. And so did an Italian tourist the other day who called York, "Buca di merda." No translation needed.
Recommended reading:
- 'Don't bother visiting York – it is a muck hole with fag ends, litter and weeds'
- 'Filthy footpaths and rubbish-filled shop fronts - York council needs to up its game'
- 'York's recycling bin changes don't add up' - letter
Brexit result must be respected
THE current government accepted the election result although 70 per cent did not vote for them.
We had a referendum on the EU and we voted to leave so I would ask the government to accept that.
Bishopthorpe
... ANDY Burnham's obvious keenness for us to rejoin the EU suggests that instead of going into negotiations erect, tall and proud, he would be prepared to crawl in on all fours with a large begging bowl around his neck.
Moat Way,
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