PASSING through St Sampson’s Square I came across men putting up further stalls for the food festival.

I said to the young man, who with a clipboard was obviously the one in charge: “What, more stalls?” He said: “Yes, we need them for the festival.”

I asked what about the people with disabilities, where were they to park? Why, he asked, did I have a Blue Badge? No, but as a former member of the York Access Group, many years ago we fought long and hard for parking places for people with disabilities when the city became “pedestrianised”.

His attitude was, to say the least, very dismissive and I walked away because I’m afraid I realised that obviously money meant far more to our local council than people ever would.

I could also go on to say that every single seat has been removed in Parliament Street and St Sampson’s Square, but would anyone at all be interested in being bothered about our elderly residents, who I’m sure like my husband and me pay our local taxes to live and enjoy our beautiful city?

Betty D Jackson, Rishworth Grove, Clifton Moor Gate, York.