REGARDING the City of York Council's recent proposal to construct a relief road between Lawrence Street and Layerthorpe at an estimated cost of £3 million (December 29), I really do wonder what motivation they work on.

Is it arrogance, ignorance or just crass stupidity? Will they never listen to logic?

Most congestion in this city has been caused by the council's continual meddling and has been made much worse by the unnecessary closure of Walmage Bar.

All this coming after we hear the council bleating about how much increase we will all have to pay next year to cover its out-of-control spending defies all reason.

We also know that any estimate for work at council level is always almost double, so why do we need such a road? Although I have written several letters regarding the way this and previous councils have conducted themselves regarding irrational spending, I feel I am wasting my time.

However, could I please ask the council when it builds this road, as it inevitably will, that it puts rising bollards at both ends to save money in the future when some bright spark refers to it as a "rat run"?

John Miller,

Hunters Close,

Dunnington, York.

Updated: 10:10 Monday, January 03, 2005