I AM in a state of incredulity after reading the latest missive published by community planning and partnerships regarding "self help" cleaning in the Strensall ward area.

In view of the well-publicised increase in council tax I find it unacceptable to expect local Strensall residents to clean their areas albeit on a voluntary basis.

To assist an efficient service might be tolerable, even admirable. However, to supplement a service that is obviously inept, no doubt due to under funding, is lamentable.

York Pride and the newly-appointed street environment officers should be aware of the fundamental services that the local authority has a statutory obligation to provide.

Clearly they are of the opinion that local tax payers should "subsidise" cleansing services.

This could be a sign of things to come - even more reductions to street cleansing or possibly reduced refuse collections - fortnightly would certainly save money and residents could, of course, deliver direct to the tip!

If things get worse we might even consider no council services whatsoever. Some rural parishes might be of the opinion that that situation already exists.

Claire Pletts,

Middlecroft Grove,

Strensall, York.

...I AM very pleased to learn that improvements are to made to Marble Arch.

Another concern of mine on the approaches to the National Railway Museum is litter.

Two areas are particularly bad, one is the boundary hedge of what I still choose to call the Station Hotel and the other the area of railway property behind the fence adjacent to the footpath from Scarborough Bridge to Leeman Road alongside the sorting office. They were both in a disgusting state the last time I walked that way.

I have contacted Care About York about this and something may have been done but the problem was so bad that I'm afraid it will be an ongoing battle to keep these areas clean.

I do hope that this will be done, because a visitor would have formed the impression that nobody cared about York if they had walked with me a few weeks ago.

Mike Prime,

Flavian Grove,

Clifton, York.

...ONCE again York's parks department and cleansing department are to be congratulated. The city is looking "blooming marvellous".

Any blot on the landscape is usually down to selfish individuals who take no pride in themselves or their surroundings.

Pamela Egan,

North Lane,

Malton Road, York.

Updated: 10:59 Tuesday, April 13, 2004