IT is pleasing to hear there has been an increase in use of the Park & Ride service in York (June 30).

However, the sting in the tale is that profits accruing from this goes to the bus company, not to the citizens of York (though the bus company may say that because of the increased usage it did not need to increase fares to meet rising fuel costs, as it did for other services).

However, the reduction in receipts from car parking charges have to be made up from council tax payments by citizens.

The Park & Ride solution is not suitable to all. To some older residents and others less able to walk very far, to walk from the city centre to the Clifford's Tower bus stop with heavy goods or parcels is a walk too far (not all people in these categories qualify for a "disabled badge").

Piccadilly short stay car park is a nearer option.

So why was it thought necessary to increase parking charges there from April by 41.7 per cent for residents? Particularly as we now know less money is being generated than before the charges were increased. It does not make financial sense or logic and was an error of judgement being imposed.

A further point is that to use the Askham Bar Park & Ride from here, one can be halfway into the city on the more direct route down Bishopthorpe Road. We hear all the arguments about cutting down on pollution and reducing congestion etc, but there has to be some degree of balance in the whole situation.

Mr A L Dixon,

Coggan Way,

Bishopthorpe, York.

Updated: 09:49 Friday, July 08, 2005