KEITH THORNTON has asked me to “confirm or deny through the letters page whether a deal was struck with the new owners before the purchase of the old council offices” with regards to the trial traffic restriction across Lendal Bridge (Letters, December 21).

I responded saying: “Neither I nor any of my Labour colleagues were involved in the July, 2007 sale when the previous Liberal Democrat council sold St Leonard’s council offices for use as a hotel.

“This was almost four years before Labour was elected to lead the council” (Here’s your answer, Mr Thornton, 24th December).

I also gave reference to when The Press covered this sale on July 30, 2007.

Mr Thornton said this was a “typical politician’s answer, ie not answering the question that was asked” (Letters, January 1).

Forgive me, but I am not sure how much clearer I can be. There has not been any deal my Labour colleagues and I were involved in when the sale took place in July 2007 while in opposition, or since being elected to lead the council in May 2011.

Coun James Alexander, Leader of City of York Council.