KEITH Rozelle’s criticism of the Greens (Letters, January 22) for supporting Labour’s £500,000 plans for the Guildhall could equally be levelled at his leader, Tory Cllr Chris Steward, over his support at cabinet for the disposal of York Theatre Royal for £1.
The market value of YTR is up to £330,000. Labour waste and mismanagement, and Tory incoherence.
In the case of the YTR giveaway, the council has failed to follow due legal process for a key decision, waived through with no background information for the public and/or councillors to properly consider the merits and risks, as Keith might say.
No attempt has been made to achieve a reasonable market return to support public services in York, surely a Labour priority.
There is no commercial or cultural reason why YTR should not still be sold on the open market. Its use as a theatre would be protected by covenant, whoever owned it.
The chair of the Leisure and Culture Scrutiny Committee, Green Cllr Dave Taylor, has responded to my concerns by asking council officers why this decision has been treated as non-key. He has also requested the background papers which no councillors or even cabinet members have yet seen.
Colin Hall, Tower Place, York.
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