I WOULD like to amplify a point in Peter Martini's excellent, comprehensive article (Evening Press, Tuesday, January 17) on York Cricket and Rugby Club's appeal against its rateable value.

The Valuation Officer claimed that "ability to pay" was not a permitted criterion in evaluating our premises as there is competition for our premises.

He relied on a section of the Local Government Finance Act which says: "... where there is likely to be competition for the property from more than one potential tenant, the question of the hypothetical tenant's ability to pay does not arise."

This led the Valuation Officer to claim that existence of other sports clubs in York indicated that there was competition for premises.

This is a peculiar form of logic as it defies belief that any club in normal circumstances could contemplate giving up its existing premises which they most likely own to pay rent for another club - £19,400 pa in the case of Clifton Park.

It would be easier to seek a merger, not that our club is seeking one.

It also defies belief that the Law proposes that rents are divorced from the ability to pay. Unaffordable rents don't get paid.

Chris Houseman,

Hon Secretary,

York Cricket and RUFC,

Shipton Road,

York