IN response to M Lambert's letter ("On the surface", October 21), there is nothing sinister about the treatment of drives and pavements in Lilac Avenue - it is a matter of horses for courses.

The pavements in Lilac Avenue had deteriorated to a state where the gaps in the joints between flags and the differential levels between the joints was such that they were becoming a public safety hazard and needed totally relaying.

When you have a contractor on site it is cost effective to do the vehicle crossings, where the concrete is deteriorating, at the same time. Thus Lilac Avenue had its disturbed flags relayed, broken ones replaced and driveways reconstructed where necessary.

However, in Newland Park Drive the bituminous footway was not in such a poor condition.

If left unchecked, within two or three years Newlands Park Drive would have had many potholes and probably need costly full reconstruction.

However, the treatment carried out on Newland Park Drive, which is known as slurry sealing, is a nationally-accepted and cost effective form of preventative maintenance. This gives an anti-slip platform for pedestrians to walk on. The footway will now be acceptable for pedestrians to use safely for five to ten years.

Fred Isles,

Maintenance Manager,

City of York Council,

Environment and Development Services.

Updated: 10:43 Saturday, November 08, 2003