NO DOUBT within the next few days our council tax bills for 2014/15 will drop through our letterboxes; and no doubt again, there will be an increase – not for the benefit of the people who pay the council tax, but for the benefit of visitors to our city.

The increase will go towards paying for the improvements in the city centre proposed by the council for the tourism trade.

One has to wonder, do our councillors ever walk round the wards they represent and see the roads which are breaking up or have a fair share of potholes; or see pavements which are uneven with broken paving flags making it dangerous for the elderly to walk on?

Maybe this is why they have introduced a 20mph speed limit all over the suburbs because they know that the condition of the roads does not allow normal speeds.

But no, they prefer to sit in their ivory tower and doodle on paper schemes which only take place within the city walls.

Roll on the next local elections.

AP Cox, Heath Close, Holgate, York.