PUT aside for one moment the alleged "death blow" to Stagecoach from the proposed loss of under four per cent of its expenditure for last year (January 17) - what about the death blow to fair, and balanced reporting?

At Monday night's meeting, I offered to Mr Cooper that I would be happy to write to Dame Judi Dench, Sir Alan Ayckbourn and Lord Feversham on Stagecoach's behalf to suggest to them that they might like to help contribute to the running costs of the scheme.

It is all very well the rich and famous wringing their hands in anguish at the problems faced by a youth theatre company hit by cuts, but why do these millionaires feel unable to dip into their own pockets?

Instead of lecturing the city council to spend money it doesn't have, the "great and the good" might have shown a bit more dignity by actually giving financial help to address the problem: £650 each.

As a professional artist myself, I am very aware of how difficult it can be for people working in the arts to know their true worth, and to seek funding. I have no doubt that Stagecoach and other similar groups provide a fantastic service to the community, but where is it written that it is the city council that has to subsidise this?

It may be that Dench, Ayckbourn and Feversham have not ever been asked to provide financial support, and that they would be delighted to help, if asked. That is why I volunteered to write to them, as a fellow professional.

Why is the Evening Press afraid of asking them the same as it asked of the city council?

And why did your article not report a positive contribution that might help to provide a solution to Stagecoach's funding gap?

Coun Christian Vassie,

Blake Court,

Wheldrake,

York.

Updated: 10:32 Friday, January 20, 2006