Photo of York otter preying on fish pond in local garden

THIS is a photo of taken in Haxby last year of an otter trying to get into a garden pond.

Aren’t they lovely you might say – but they’re horrible things as far as I’m concerned.

S Robinson,

York

…I WAS saddened to read Stuart’s article concerning the otter in Wigginton.

Is this not proof that we are doing immense damage to our wildlife by building on their natural habitat?

Where will it end?

Yes housing is needed but not at the expense of our wonderful surroundings.

Mrs Eunice Birch,

Sutton on Forest,

York

Otter trying to get into a garden pond in Haxby – photo supplied

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Government plans are backfiring – here’s why

ABRAHAM Lincoln knew the folly of action against entrepreneurs when he stated: “You cannot help the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot help the wage-earner by pulling down the wage-payer. You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich”.

If you are a renter looking to lease a home don’t expect the new Renters Act to help you find a place. It won’t. Quite the opposite. Existing landlords are getting out of the market. Excessively onerous legislation, coupled with yet more punitive taxation against landlords convinces many ‘would-be’ housing providers that renting out homes is not the business to be in.

The result of all this is a reduction in the supply of an essential commodity at a time of enormous demand.

The Renters Act is a massive disincentive to anyone with an enterprising spirit to provide homes for rent.

It follows on from similar legislation that has largely destroyed the incentive to build new homes. Small and medium housebuilders have largely disappeared and the remaining big companies face choking demands that make developing slow and costly.

These are examples of ill-considered government interference that is backfiring on the very people it was intended to help.

Matthew Laverack,

Lord Mayor’s Walk,

York

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Thanks for the memories

ST WILLIAM’S College on College Street, York, was originally built 1465.

It was unusual because it was originally built with just the one main entrance and with no ground floor, street-facing windows.

This was apparently for privacy, with only the central archway giving access to the building (the bay windows were added in the 18th century).

I was told many years ago that the idea of the one door was to control drunken and rowdy priests from the debauchery and rowdiness in the surrounding areas.

The area around the Minster including the Treasurer’s House and St William’s College was surrounded by a 12ft high wall and was in fact a self contained area under Church law with it’s own prison and garrison (it still has its own police force) and was completely independent of the City Mayor and laws.

Established in 1106 rescinded in 1834 , the area fell under the symbol of St Peter “cross keys” ( hence the name of the Cross Keys pub) and had four main fortified gates: Bootham and Monkgate plus two others. The early church was all powerful in the medieval period

My father Leonard was brought up in Grape Lane, with his brothers Trevor, Reg and Philip in the small house at the side of Coffee Yard, now the Polymath Bar at 21 Grape Lane.

At one time my grandmother Gertrude I believe ran the Bloomsbury public house. Between the pub and 21 Grape lane (now the site of the Slug & Lettuce ) and on the bend opposite was a large laundry.

More nostalgia pages please, I find them absolutely fascinating.

D M Deamer,

Penleys Grove Street,

Monkgate, York