The letter from D Cousins about his/her fall down the stairs of the Parliament Street toilets (May 6) was very interesting.

I have considerable sympathy for this person's injuries having suffered a fall downstairs myself.

However, I feel this is a case of the so-called "claim culture" gone mad.

Have we really become so divorced from personal responsibility we expect the council to warn us of every hazard?

Would it not be reasonable to expect people would know steps could be slippery after it had been raining and take extra care?

If we all continue this way we will get the nanny state we deserve, not to mention even higher council taxes to pay for claims of negligence.

Anita Thompson,

Redwood Drive,

Haxby, York.

Updated: 10:42 Monday, May 16, 2005