I HAVE just spent the day guiding our first USA clients of the 2002 season around York in glorious sunshine, and was proud to show them the many wonders of the city. But I was ashamed at the filth on display at some of the main historic sites within the city walls.

Our clients, a family of four, flew overnight from New York to London, then immediately travelled north to arrived in 'old' York some 12 hours after leaving their home.

All went well until we arrived at the "Anglian Tower" when we came upon what is generally known if situated in a third world country as an open sewer.

It was evident for all to see (and smell) that this area is not part of City of York Council's cleaning remit. The detritus included beer cans, fast food containers, faeces, bits of newspapers and the whole place stank of urine.

Being the first day of the first visit this family has made not only to York but also to Britain what impressions will they take back to the States? Certainly one of a council who cares little for this great city's appearance!

If finances are yet again trotted out as an excuse as to why the city can only be cleaned on an ad hoc basis, perhaps the council could consider requesting the many buskers and street artists to help with the cleaning costs, rather than the easy way of just demanding more council taxes from their 'captive' market.

John D Casperson,

Managing Director,

Connoisseur Travel (York) Ltd,

Nether Poppleton,

York.

Updated: 10:45 Monday, March 25, 2002