WHERE does the city council get off spending nearly half a million pounds sprucing up only the parts of York a few royals and some over-privileged punters will see during Royal Ascot week ("Spring clean for Ascot", April 6)?

This is especially so when, among other things, residents of Elvington are having to take it upon themselves to raise the funds to protect their village from the ravages of annual flooding.

The council should make this matter a priority?

There has been graffiti on Hull Road Park gates opposite my house for more than two months now and the council doesn't seem in much of a rush to clean it up before Ascot.

I have had to replace major parts of the suspension on my car three times in the past year because my road is in such a poor state of repair.

It has become dangerous to use, particularly for cyclists and motorcyclists and, no, I don't drive fast, I daren't go over 15mph in case something else self-destructs.

Hull Road desperately needs speed cameras or some other traffic calming measure and has done for some time. One death and several near fatalities justify something more than a pedestrian crossing, don't you think?

May we please have some sort of fair balance? The council needs to get its priorities sorted, spend money where it's needed and not where it will look pretty for visitors who don't care either way.

It's time for the council to stop acting like a bunch of Royal Ascot toadies. Out-of-towners should take us as they find us, York is pretty enough. Try spending the money council taxpayers may find worthwhile for a change.

Martin Vaughan,

Alcuin Avenue,

Tang Hall,

York.

Updated: 10:48 Monday, April 11, 2005