IN RESPONSE to Peter Boulton (Letters, November 21), I’d certainly pay tribute to Albert Cowan’s advocacy and lead role in introducing the city centre footstreets in 1986-87 and the paving out of St Helen’s Square, where a slab commemorates his achievements.

I was a strong supporter of pedestrianisation – based on the successful scheme I’d seen introduced in Copenhagen. My public role was as Albert’s vice-chair on the working group that oversaw the introduction of footstreets, and later in my own right leading the extension of the days and hours on which it applied, and getting most of the busiest shopping streets paved.

However, my other earlier role was in convening and producing the Transport Group report that led to York Labour Party first adopting city-centre pedestrianisation – not without considerable disagreement – as its policy in 1985, and its inclusion in Labour’s 1986 manifesto, something Albert had not been able to achieve.

Regarding Bob Redwood’s letter of November 22, blue badge holders had not legally been permitted entry into Davygate in core hours since the footstreets were first introduced – only more severely disabled green badge holders were.

Disabled parking is important and we have therefore increased the number of dedicated blue-badge parking spaces.

Cllr Dave Merrett, Cabinet member for environment, planning and sustainability, City of York Council.