Whatever people's perception of York's "squatters", they have managed to achieve in a couple of months what the hierarchy of our city have been trying to do for two decades.

Firstly, they occupy the White Swan, our very own eyesore and, as if by magic, the owners who haven't bothered with it for 20-plus years get them evicted and pay the City of York a bit of lip service and paint the outside.

Secondly, they occupy another empty, ramshackle, house in Holgate Road that was bought in 1977 and has been left to go to wrack and ruin since. Again the owner decided he didn't want the squatters in his property and got them evicted.

What strikes me is the speed with which these two owners have moved to evict. They must have been sent hundreds of letters by the council to tidy up their properties and, looking at the state of the buildings, have blatantly ignored them. As soon as "squatters" appear they move faster than greased-lightning to protect their property and play on public sympathy.

The council should employ squatters to occupy empty buildings that are regarded as a problem. They would save a fortune in paperwork, stamps and legal fees. Missing, or uncontactable, landlords/owners would become a thing of the past.

PR Willey,

Burnholme Drive, York.

Updated: 10:30 Tuesday, June 24, 2003