I WAS very surprised by the letter from one of the Labour spin doctors (April 5) critical of the launch of the Liberal Democrat environment campaign, who claimed Labour had invented the idea of a York-wide doorstep recycling scheme at the start of April.

Some councils adopted this nearly a decade ago.

The fact that York is so far behind in the field shows why there needs to be a change of control in the council.

Liberal Democrat proposals for a city-wide scheme, tailored to specific neighbourhoods, were rejected in January by Labour and their Conservative allies.

After weeks of knocking on doors, I am convinced the public have a different view and would love to be able to recycle plastics and have somewhere to leave their batteries and similar waste.

Coun Andrew Waller,

Askham Lane,

Acomb,

York.

A LABOUR party leaflet dismayed me recently. It came from the campaign co-ordinator for Church Fenton, Ryther, and Biggin, Bill Tinsley and lists Labour's achievements in this area during the last five years.

Firstly, all these villages have a Conservative district councillor and county councillor. Most concerning was the claim that Labour had achieved "record spending at Kirk Fenton Primary School including £500,000 for two new classrooms and a nursery unit in Church Fenton".

As a governor of the school I can say this money had nothing to do with the Labour Party. It came from North Yorkshire County Council, which is run by a Conservative controlling group.

Clearly the Labour Party has so little in tangible achievements in Selby district it has to resort to wild exaggeration. I challenge Labour members to counter my claims.

Jonathan F. Meehan,

Northfield Terrace,

Conservative candidate,

Church Fenton, Tadcaster.

Updated: 09:47 Saturday, April 12, 2003