We should be proud of the abbey and celebrate its place in the town. The 'renaissance' plans are crucial, so I attended the meeting last Thursday night. Obviously, much detailed work is needed. However, when discussion was thrown open, I was astounded by the wave of negativity that erupted.

Firstly it "wasn't broke, why fix it?". Really? What about the cracked paving, the random arrangement of bins, and the disregard of parking restrictions?

Then we were told people in Selby wanted more car parking spaces for them to use the shops. I drive and, apart from on bank holidays and at Christmas, never have a problem parking to access shops or the market. A return to parking in front of the Abbey? What a welcoming vista of the abbey that would be!

Then the cost. It's high, but this isn't local council tax money, it's government money. Yes, that has ultimately come from us, but if it isn't spent here, the £1.5 million will go somewhere else in Yorkshire.
The meeting was drearily reminiscent of ones in York 20 years ago. Back then it was argued fiercely Deangate must stay open for traffic and it would be commercial madness to close Parliament Street. Very few people in York want to reverse those changes now.

Selby needs similar change. Trade is dying. Good shops are closing and being replaced by low-value outlets, charity shops or empty lots. The market is losing variety and quality. Despite the benefits of the bypass, the shopping environment in Selby remains an uninviting one for pedestrians.

The current renaissance scheme has its faults. But it does have a positive view of the future of Selby – and for that it needs constructive criticism.

David Lewis
Church End, Cawood