IN HIS letter of January 28, RS Pearson objects to my criticism of the council and says that if I thought I could do better, I should put my money where my pen is.

I thought I was expressing my right to freedom of speech. I do not have and have never had political aspirations. And I do not have to put my money where my pen is when the council spends mine, Mr Pearson’s and other council taxpayers’ money on ludicrous schemes.

Schemes such as the loss-making Tour De France: as far as York went, it cost us money to put on a concert after the event. The Lendal Bridge fiasco which so far has cost £760,000 and is still rising. I am sure there have been other such hare-brained schemes, and without any political experience I am sure I could have found places where the money could have been better spent to the benefit of more taxpayers.

If Mr Pearson does not believe in freedom of speech and is critical of other regular contributors to the Letters page, why did he bother to write. May I also point out that the Letters page is very popular with readers.

AP Cox, Heath Close, Holgate, York.