SO WE now know the route of the Tour de Yorkshire and all the usual suspects are telling us what a wonderful thing this race will be. Well, I am not joining the celebrations.

Along with other citizens of York, I will be paying through taxes for the race either now or in the future. The whole city will be disrupted on the day and perhaps other days.

This also happens on other occasions such as the marathon and the Sky Ride. Then we are told it is good for the local economy. Well, when will I get my share of the Tour de France bonanza? Perhaps it is in the post.

We are repeatedly told by councillors that there is not enough money for road cleaning, pavement repairs, bin collections and other mundane matters. However, when it comes to splashing cash on all sorts of grandiose schemes, it appears there is a bottomless pit of money.

Is it too much to hope that whoever wins the election locally in May will stick to what they should do and not get involved in these ridiculous schemes?

A last thought: if the weather is bad on the day of the race, will North Yorkshire Police give all the riders a free set of lights?

Keith Woodland, Galtres Road, York.