Sir - On page seven of your paper (February 8) you report the refusal of the city council to give our allotment association a rent-free year to make some amends for the two floodings in five months that destroyed all our crops, damaged beyond repair our machinery, damaged our amenity shed and fittings, etc. The executive member for finance is quoted in your report "waiving the rent for a year would set a precedent". That is not true.

Currently there are two associations who have rent relief and, many times before, arrangements have been made with other associations.

I know because I spent more years than I can remember chairing the council's allotment committee and negotiated most of those so-called precedents.

On page six of the same paper, you report that Oxford City Council leaders agreed to write off £267,000 in uncollectable debts, 90 per cent of which is unpaid business rate where bankruptcy has occurred. The amount we seek is £1,000 after 155 years of tenancy, during which time we have never reneged or been late with our rent.

If we, like others, declare ourselves bankrupt, will we get our debt written off?

John Power, Oxford