WE learn that City of York Council is keen to demonstrate that the customer comes first and that it is bent on a scheme to improve 'access' between the public and the relevant council departments.

I think it should be borne in mind that this is the same council that forged ahead with plans for the Coppergate II development in the face of considerable public opposition, agreed the building of a park and ride facility at Rawcliffe in contravention of the wishes of local residents and introduced a cabinet-style system of local government one year before they needed to, having only now got round to consulting the people of York as to whether they even wanted such a system in the first place.

The only item to which the council needs 'access' to improve its quality of service is a pair of tweezers, with which the executive may then remove the cotton wool blocking their ears.

Dr K Davis,

Mason's Court,

Cockermouth,

Cumbria.

Updated: 11:06 Tuesday, April 24, 2001