T Ryder claims that because there was no major spending by the city on New Year's Eve activities, York's citizens and visitors were somehow let down by their council (Letters, January 8).

The easy riposte would be to say that the thousands in the city centre enjoyed an atmosphere that was safe, good- humoured, celebratory and in line with what most people wanted.

For more than a year the Millennium Coordination Group had looked at how York could mark the year 2000. Comprised of representatives from the media, police, churches, attractions, licensed premises, arts and entertainment organisations, tourism industry, business, and the council, the group took the views of local people on board.

Through opinion research, readers' letters, and other feedback, the consensus emerged that a year long programme of activities was preferred rather than some one-off extravaganza.

The year 2000 will see more activity than ever in this city - as a look at the Evening Press's Millennium Diary clearly shows. New Year's Eve saw lots of community and neighbourhood parties and celebrations, not because people were forced to do so but because that's what they wanted.

This year will be marked by opportunities for everyone to say that they took part in something special, something different. The new Millennium in York will allow and encourage people to decide how they want to mark it, and their memories because of that will hopefully last longer than one-night's "tinsel, baubles and street entertainment" as Mr Ryder called for.

Peter Berry,

Assistant chief executive,

City of York Council,

Guildhall, York.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.