THE students living in my ward would be appalled to see Mr Ayres’ letter to the press on Thursday.

It’s symptomatic of a wider problem in many university cities where an inaccurate view that students do not care about the city they reside in for the course of their study pervasively exists.

Mr Ayres is wrong. The impact of the student vote is felt no more significantly in York Central than it is in York Outer, where the University of York is situated, or anywhere else. Further, there are a great many students who care very passionately about a number of political issues.

I for one care about the handling of the economy; I care about housing, and jobs just like any other student would. Students in their final year especially are going to want to find somewhere to live and work.

I also care about issues of civil liberties, about the effect of terrorism, and the security of this country. These are things that students and non-students alike care about, and to suggest that the views of students are somehow less important is plainly offensive.

Charlie Kingsbury, Liberal Democrat council candidate for Fishergate ward, Heslington Road, York.