The letter from T J Ryder (Evening Press, January 8), seems to suggest that city councillors should pay for all the festivities surrounding the Millennium out of their own pockets.

I wonder if your correspondent is aware that the cost would actually have been borne by the taxpayers!

There are many of us who consider that this kind of expense is totally irrelevant when many essential services are threatened by a shortage of council money.

I don't think that any firm facing serious financial problems would consider wasting thousands of pounds of their creditors' money on frivolous festivities - and if they did then that would be a valid reason to call for the resignation of the managing body.

The same applies to the resurfacing of a street, reported on page 12, 'Residents aim to save historic street' (January 8). If the residents wish to go for the more expensive option, then I suggest that they chip in with the difference themselves.

Keith Smith,

Dikelands Lane,

Upper Poppleton, York.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.