THE non-attendance of Liberal Democrat councillors at the meeting about anti-social behaviour in Acomb, Holgate and Foxwood was certainly not due to a lack of interest ('Residents hit out at no-show councillors', February 23).

The problems caused by anti-social behaviour are at the very top of the Liberal Democrat agenda in York, as can be seen by the many new initiatives which have come forward since the last election.

The public meeting arranged by Hugh Bayley MP was nothing more than a political stunt by the Labour party to try to destabilise the Liberal Democrats in the west of the city.

Indeed, the councillors for Dringhouses and Woodthorpe were never invited to this meeting and any posters I have seen have not included our ward as one of the invited participants.

To then discover we were accused of non-attendance proves exactly what the real purpose of the meeting was.

Perhaps rather than playing games, Mr Bayley should try co-operating with the council to find positive solutions to problems which blight people's lives.

Coun Tom Holvey,

Dringhouses and Woodthorpe Ward,

Houndsway,

York.

...COUN Steve Galloway obviously puts his political considerations before those of his electorate. He and the other local Liberal Democrat representatives chose not to attend an important meeting in Acomb because it was a meeting "organised by the Labour Party" (February 23). Even though other, non-political bodies such as magistrates, youth service and police were represented.

No doubt if the meeting had been called to ratify rises in car park charges the Liberals would have been out in strength.

Paul Gledhill,

Acomb Wood Close,

Woodthorpe,

York.

Updated: 09:59 Friday, February 27, 2004