AS a member of one of the groups invited to a presentation of the alternative proposals by English Heritage for a visitor centre for Clifford’s Tower I would consider it very unwise for Cllr Johnny Hayes to challenge the planning process as “deeply flawed” (The Press, December 16).

English Heritage undertook a very thorough consultation on possible alternatives, with a substantial team who had clearly done a great deal of work and were fully receptive to criticisms and suggestions by those attending.

Regrettably attendance was very poor, although our own group, devoted to access problems, was fully represented.

The significance of the Tower and mound, as a relic of a more substantial castle of major political but little military importance, is difficult to present, as a disappointing recent TV series proved, and the isolated mound has only been revealed in its present form for less than a century.

The Press recently showed old photographs of the former prison walls - one wonders what outcry there would be if they were only now up for removal, or even reinstatement.

David Brown, York Access Group Acomb House, York