I would like to know why York's Labour council is holding on to our £12 million reserves when our pavements and roads are in a very poor state of repair. Why are the reserves so high, the council taxpayers bills are high yet services are cut again for the third year running?

I advise York taxpayers to look at the pavements the next time they walk down the streets. Are they safe and free from large gaps? No. Are they raised in any way and full of weeds? Yes.

Are the gullies free from silt? No. Do you have standing water on your roads, and do your bike wheels drop into pot holes? Yes.

Does your Labour council care? No. Because if they did the proposal by the Liberal Democrats at the budget council meeting to release £2 million for urgent repairs would not have been rejected. So come on City of York Council, the taxpayers need an improved quality of life. As things stand at the moment we are restricted when we drive into York, our bus services are insensible towards passengers and soon we won't be able to cycle or walk because the roads and paths will be substandard.

Clive Walton,

Allington Drive,

Appletree Village,

York.

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