THE "average" wage in York quoted in the Evening Press is clearly skewed by a few at the top earning (or, at least, getting paid) ridiculous amounts of money (September 29).

As a glance at job adverts in the paper every week will show, the real average wages in York are miserable.

This coupled with extortionately high house prices and rents makes it very difficult for those earning the real York average wages to even afford to live.

I've been here for four years now, but am seriously considering leaving as I can only afford to live in shared houses.

From talking to others, I know that this is a common problem. The city council's policy of allowing the construction of vast numbers of characterless ugly flats (sorry - I mean contemporary, architect-designed luxury apartments) which have huge price tags can only make the situation worse.

The council could ease matters by restricting the building of expensive flats and allowing more affordable housing, but it is clearly only bothered about what tourists think and locals are only there to pay taxes.

Likewise the Government could help by taxing the buy-to-let market heavily, but are seemingly more bothered about fighting pointless wars than sorting out real problems at home.

David Bryant,

Wellington Street,

York.

Updated: 09:43 Saturday, October 02, 2004