CUTTING the grant which would have made it possible for Stagecoach to continue working with young people in York is a great tragedy for which this council will be remembered for a long time to come (January 17).

At a time when there is widespread concern about how young people learn how to contribute constructively to our community, to remove such an excellent activity devoted to giving young people social skills and confidence while releasing their imagination and creativity is incomprehensible.

It suggests total ignorance of the fabulous impact that the experience of theatre has on the lives of young people. The loss of Stagecoach for such a relatively small sum of money will be felt not just by the current members and their families, but the many future generations of local people who would have benefited had the council encouraged the company to go from strength to strength.

While the Government is banging on about respect, our city councillors have failed to appreciate that youth theatre is one of the most powerful ways of helping young people to discover the self-control, creativity and self-respect that is fundamental to any change in the way people treat one another.

Paul Burbridge,

Artistic director,

Riding Lights Theatre,

Lower Friargate, York.

Updated: 11:00 Wednesday, January 18, 2006