SORRY Mr Deamer and Mr Reed but I’m afraid you’ve both got it wrong on the Shambles area.
The Shambles has turned into Diagon Alley where the famous Harry Potter purchased his magic wand and Hogwarts school requirements, not a Disneyland.
Perhaps it is time to rename this ancient street accordingly – just about everything required for Hogwarts is on sale down the atmospheric, picturesque ancient street.
Tourists, young and old, simply love it.
Prime Minister Starmer might just fancy purchasing requirements for a summer school course at Hogwarts School – I think The Hat would most likely decide on Slytherin house for him.
Myself, I’d keep my fingers crossed for Gryffindor; sparks would certainly fly as our wands clashed.
Mary Morton,
Hob Moor Drive,
Holgate, York
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Shambles shops suitable for ‘selling specialist tourist tat’
WHATEVER one may think of Harry Potter-type merchandise, or for that matter little ghost figurines, there is no way to prevent them being sold in Shambles under current planning legislation; nor should there be if they are not doing any harm.
York is now dependent on visitors. Poky little shops in a medieval street are no longer suitable for what might be called regular retailing but are suitable for selling specialist tourist tat.
The freehold owners of shops in Shambles could control what goods may or may not be sold but it would have a significant impact on the likely rental income. Wizard paraphernalia and little ghost figures are clearly in demand. Other stuff not so much.
The Shambles is largely owned by York Council and it wouldn’t want to reduce rents as a result of a restriction on selling goods that some people regard as tacky.
Besides, the local authority has a duty to obtain best value from its assets to maximise financial input to the benefit of citizens.
Of course the council doesn’t always comply with this obligation as can be seen at a controversial site in Piccadilly where “temporary” containers are bringing an income less than one tenth of what could be achieved by a modest surface car park.
Matthew Laverack,
Lord Mayors Walk,
York
Green win is ‘triumph of hope over hate’
T.J. DENTON (Letters, February 28) mistakenly thinks because Hannah Spencer, the first Green MP in northern England is a plumber (as was my late maternal grandfather) she will be able to “help the building programme”. She will be far too busy as an MP, diligently representing her constituents.
As a veteran Green Party member – I joined when it was the Ecology Party – I was delighted to travel with my campaigning dog to Gorton and Denton last Thursday to help Hannah win.
It was a massive team effort. Despite the pouring rain, we knocked on doors, gave out leaflets and thanked voters who told us they’d voted for Hannah.
As I said to my teenage granddaughters yesterday, the Greens’ success in Gorton and Denton was a triumph of hope over hate.
Ginnie Shaw
Osbaldwick,
York
… I’VE recently joined the Green Party because it is the first time I’ve had hope for our politics in years.
The Greens, led by Zack Polanski, are genuine, hard-working, and they really care about all of us.
Gorton and Denton was no protest vote, but the culmination of many voters dissatisfied with Labour’s rightward slant, and inability to stand up to the far right and Trump’s USA.
I think many York Labour voters will find a more comfortable home now with the Greens.
Serena Stampfer
South Bank,
York
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