SIR – More nonsense from John Shearon (Letters, October 18).

He suggests the council should buy up houses for people to rent. However he recently suggested that people should pay less council tax at a time when, we are told, the city council is near to bankruptcy.

Does this correspondent think that the authority can grow money on trees?

In any case the city council transferred the whole housing stock to Worcester Community Housing some time ago so it would not be appropriate for it to buy houses.

Furthermore, Mr Shearon has called for the city council to be merged with all its neighbouring authorities. If it ceases to exist how can the council buy houses? You are inconsistent, Mr Shearon.

D E MARGRETT, Worcester.