IT SEEMS that the budget of £1.8m for the Tour de France’s local “event production” was complete guesswork.

A shortfall of £2.3m is unforgivable. Why is it assumed that council taxpayers will pay the difference? Why can’t the Tour organisers pay for their own event? There will probably be substantial entry fees, and the world-wide television rights must be worth many millions of euros. Are we been taken for a ride?

Colin Richardson, Hobgate, York.