Does Banksy need planning permission? Reader’s letter

NATIONAL Icon Banksy is in the news again.

Now here’s a thought which certain of your Press letter writers will be able to answer. ‘Does Banksy have to have planning permission?’

Derek Reed,

Middlethorpe Drive,

York

—

Stick to the rules

ONCE again the planning regime in York shows how its decisions are inconsistent, illogical and unfair.

Outside the city walls in Fishergate, harmless window graphics in a student block are refused by council officers on the grounds they have a negative impact on the building and surrounding streetscape.

Meanwhile, inside the city walls in Piccadilly, entirely inappropriate alien shipping containers are approved by the very same planning authority with no mention of “a significant adverse visual amenity of the location, by virtue of their scale, position and number” or that they “appear as a large and dominant feature in the streetscene, appearing obtrusive in its surroundings”.

The excuse of “temporary” in Piccadilly no longer stands up after three extensions of time in contravention of The 1990 Planning Act making it clear this is not justified.

The latest five year extension brings this supposedly “meanwhile” use to at least 14 years – a greater longevity than might be expected from window graphics!

Matthew Laverack,

Lord Mayors Walk,

York

—

Lead by business?

CUTTING the cost of welfare and illegal immigrants is a priority of the Reform party.

Opponents say this is not fully costed. Leaders of this party are mainly businessmen who have succeeded and made money from running their own companies.

This is in complete contrast to almost all other parties who are either legal know it alls or career politicians who have no idea what running their own business for a profit entails.

So who would you trust with Britain’s finances?

A party who can make ends meet or ones that borrow and spend and bankrupt the country?

I know which I prefer.

Barrie Crowther,

Walton,

Wakefield

What do you think?

Feel strongly about an issue? Write us a letter. Please write no more than 250 words and you must provide your full name, address and mobile number. Send your views by email to: letters@thepress.co.uk

Write a comment

Join the debate and leave a comment in our comments section below this article – we may use your comments for a follow up article.