I read with dismay (Evening Press, January 5) the annual whingeing from council leader Rodney Hills under the usual headlines, 'Closures and fees in search for cuts' again. One could almost believe he just alters the dates on his yearly press releases.

One could give it some credibility if only Rodney would show with the rest of the councillors that he leads the way and do without the annual increases in his council allowances. After all he still has his lecturer's post at York University.

The city doesn't have to scrape the barrel and show us up so much that we are reduced to selling the civic number plates. Rodney, you are the leader and a very educated fellow so lead by accepting either no increases (and inviting your fellow councillors to do the same) or indeed do these part-time duties for nothing for a year, emulating past leaders of City of York Council.

As a chap who worked all his life and for Labour in York during my younger days, if I have to accept 75p for my increase in my old age pension, what about you?

Now we have talk of swimming baths closing, libraries closing - a blow to us old ones who have nothing - paying to go into the Museum Gardens, where we have gone free since we were children in the 1930s, and raising car park fees. I have no car but the poor motorist is hit every time.

All this, Rodney, and never a word that you may dip your hand into your own pocket to help the city that gave you the great honour of the CBE.

Brian Rowan,

Fourth Avenue,

Heworth,

York.

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