TO some of us the sad story of dilapidation in two City of York Council properties (March 19) was less surprising than it should have been.

Liberal Democrat pressure to increase spending on repairs has been constant for some years. In the recent budget round the Liberal Democrat suggestion of an increase of £50,000 in the estate improvements budget was voted down by the usual unholy alliance of Labour and Tory members at Guildhall.

Happily, tenants will soon have a chance to make their feelings about this miserly attitude known.

Coun David Livesley,

City of York Liberal Democrat housing spokesman,

Lang Road,

York.

Updated: 10:22 Friday, March 28, 2003