AT THE beginning of September, I wrote to The Press to express my dismay as a Labour member that the city’s administration was risking a consensual and cross-party approach to addressing congestion and pollution by failing to provide automated refunds to Lendal Bridge finds.

I was disappointed that my comments were regarded as unhelpful by James Alexander and more than one other member of the senior leadership.

Nevertheless, credit where it is now due. I am delighted that Dafydd Williams, in his first act as Labour leader, has drawn a line under the Lendal Bridge debacle. I hope this act creates the space for everyone interested in York’s environment to have a constructive discussion on how congestion should be tackled, based on research and evidence, and that future policies are based on clear and measured objectives.

I am optimistic that this reflects a shift in priorities and culture in the local Labour leadership. Those priorities need to be to listen more closely to the basic and ordinary concerns of residents in York.

The culture needs not only to be more transparent in any decision-making but also more outward-facing so that consultation with communities is meaningful.

Richard Bridge, Holgate Road, York.