YOUR correspondents J Neale and W Brayshaw are very wide of the mark when criticising York council for appointing a project manager to ensure the smooth running of Royal Ascot at York (Letters, February 3).

Would they have preferred that arrangements be left to chance?

With the possibility that the population of York might effectively double during parts of Ascot week, the city is surely to be congratulated on finding funding to make the event a success, both for residents and visitors - and at no incremental charge to the local taxpayer.

Furthermore street cleaning standards have been improved by the present council and we are in the middle of the largest ever highway resurfacing programme.

So let's have no more sarcastic comments about flying the flag for a city and community that we should all be proud of.

Coun Janet Greenwood,

Common Road,

Dunnington, York.

Updated: 12:04 Wednesday, February 09, 2005