I write in response to the comments on the Press website about my letter (Building Poser, July 4). I stand accused of being a council employee – I am not. I retired in September 2011.

Furthermnore, I worked in housing from 2004, not for 20 years.

At least I can now defend myself from such blogs, unlike serving council officers who are not allowed to. It is elected politicians who decide the policies of the council, not biased bloggers who are not prepared to give their real names.

I am neither a council officer, a “politicised sidekick”’ nor was “I put up to it” (writing the letter).

I do believe that an affordable home is a key human right, contributes to the health and wellbeing of the nation and that the key issue in York and across the country is the lack of lending for housing by the banks and building societies. Almost all councils in the region have a target for a higher percentage of affordable housing than York.

Lots of hot air and incorrect statements cannot hide the fact that none of the critics nor alibi bloggers have let us know how many homes they have built, whether affordable or not. Personal attacks can never be a substitute for reasoned debate.

Graham Tissiman, Eastfield Avenue, Haxby.

• Graham Tissiman, the former highway and housing officer at City of York Council, claims that “the building fraternity in York do not all think the same way” as myself and other regular critics of York’s affordable housing policies (Letters, July 4).

Utter rubbish. After a lifetime in construction I know the vast majority of York builders and I challenge Mr Tissiman to produce a single bona-fide housebuilder who actually agrees with, and welcomes, the impositions and financial burdens placed upon the industry by the council’s punitive demands.

The volume housebuilders are no more in favour of these policies than small and medium local firms and it is utterly ridiculous to suggest that their failure to openly condemn these policies is an indication of support. The policies directly impact on their profitability. Of course they don’t agree with them.

Moreover, the comment that smaller firms have “built very little” is as insulting as it is untrue. The big boys have all packed up in York. It is only the smaller organisations that are still trying to keep going.

John Jones, Former house builder, Sand Hutton Manor, York.