WE often hear the opinions of York residents that their needs are ignored in favour of attention paid to tourism.

Recently the leader of the city council, Ian Gillies, informed us that he simply didn’t have the money to fix all the potholes in York (“York council leader quizzed over ‘state of the city’”, The Press, September 24).

At this moment it is being debated whether or not to spend £500,000 of our money on the appearance of Fossgate. Which of these projects is more important?

If the work to Fossgate is so beneficial to traders, let them pay for it, and allow my council tax to go towards the potholes.

D Mcternan,

Fossway, York

Plastic kerbstones is way forward for York

It’s alarming how many working days are lost to staff sickness at City of York Council.

The Press reports that muscular-skeletal problems are the second biggest cause of days off sick (“28,000 days are lost to staff sickness at council”, October 12).

While I recognise this figure covers many different professional groups, there’s one area where a solution has been available for a long time.

Twelve years ago, as a city councillor, I learned that many sick days result from bad backs suffered by the kerbstone-laying teams. I urged the council to use plastic kerbstones instead of concrete ones. With greater tensile strength they can bear greater loads before cracking and can be dropped without shattering. The hundreds of paving stones cracked by parked cars and lorries across the city illustrate the weakness of concrete.

Plastic kerbstones can be sawn to size in seconds. They produce lower carbon emissions during manufacture and, manufactured from recycled plastic, create a viable market for UK waste that China no longer accepts.

Crucially, plastic kerbstones weigh very little so they’re easy to use without risking back troubles for the workforce. Forward thinking local authorities use them to look after staff, save money, and to protect the environment. Time we did the same.

Christian Vassie,

Blake Court,

Wheldrake, York