WE often read in the Evening Press that City of York Council is short of money, but is the council getting full value for the contracts they already pay for on our behalf?

I am a very poorly senior citizen and, as with other pensioners who live alone, we have our grass cut by the council contractors four or five times a year.

But don't ever grow old because you are expected to beg year after year for this service. The contractors never turn up and one has to beg friends on holiday in York to cut the grass.

Certain council contractors give excuses that it is too wet, too hot, they can't get to the grass - yet mine goes nowhere. The clerks in the council do their best but they have no clout and Heworth councillor, Viv Kind does her best to no avail.

Do contractors working for the city see us as an easy touch because we are elderly? Does the council ever call at a few houses to see if their work has been done?

I have had many promises from council staff, and my councillor, that the contractors are coming tomorrow, but tomorrow never comes.

Only the Evening Press seems to get results.

Name and address supplied

Updated: 10:37 Tuesday, September 14, 2004