York has a long sorry history as a city of 'non festivals'.

I don't wish to cover old ground, but point out that people still think about the plays and music concerts held in the Museum Gardens, the Clifford's Tower fireworks, the Viking boat burning and the city-wide music and arts events which took place as part of the York Festival. I was even more astonished to read of the objections by Rawcliffe Parish Council to an unspecified event which may or may not take place at an unspecified venue somewhere where I live or, alternatively, in Rawcliffe.

I had no idea that a sewage works existed within the Rawcliffe area, and, because this is so "hazardous to health", I shall do my best to avoid the area for fear of contracting cholera, typhoid or the black death.

I despair that people with the parish council's views are allowed to claim to speak for the community.

Charlie Stone,

Millfield Road, York.

Updated: 11:14 Wednesday, May 11, 2005