THE spectre of Thatcherism is alive and kicking in York today.

Our Tory planning committee councillors must be delighted in the mantra of closing down council-run residential homes and letting privateers step in.

They must be even more pleased that some of the Labour and Lib Dems, against all party principles, actually agree with them.

Residential council care homes in York have over the years steadily been closed down: Barstow House, Oliver House, Grove House, Glen Lodge (flexible care), with the noose hanging over Windsor House and Oakhaven.

Our council stated it “will now seek a development partner to fund, build and operate an extra care home on the current Oakhaven site”. You have one.

Instead you totally ignore over 70 York residents who are totally opposed to this folly of demolishing yet another beautiful Victorian building.

I cannot see the point of us York citizens paying 15 planning councillors when there is a charade of consultation and the outcome has already been decided.

This wonderful council planning has resulted in a shortfall in York of 657 residential care beds, expected to rise to 962 by 2020.

Our aged need council care for the many, not 79 super rich.

William Moore, Lochrin Place, York