THE front page story that £41 million is the sum to be spent on the Community Stadium in York (The Press, July 20) contrasts with a smaller item in the paper about a less glamorous subject.

It says Citizens’ Advice York is now closed for all but two days a week because it doesn’t have the cash to stay open, despite rising demand.

The CAY offers a vital service to people in the city who are really struggling financially.

Their office is the only place many people can turn to.

Its straitened circumstances seem representative of a broader picture. CAY’s difficulties mirror the way that essential council services are being cut to the bone all the time in the name of austerity.

The £41 million sports stadium project on the other hand seems to represent community in name only. Especially at this price.

The principal beneficiary of this staggering public largesse seems to be York City FC, a private company.

Something seems wrong with our public funding priorities here - and I say this as a fan who has been watching York City since 1966.

It’s well-documented that a succession of York councils have wasted huge amounts on the Monk’s Cross project and there’s still nothing there to show for it.

It’s a money pit and no more public cash should be poured in.

It should be redirected, so that social care and social provisions such as CAY, that bring benefit to the greatest number of people and foster a sense of community, can be adequately funded once again.

Mick Hickling, Clifton Dale, York