THE council's political masters would rather watch while York chokes than get serious about exhaust fumes.

Air quality rules are broken at five locations on the inner ring road.

Gillygate and Fishergate are so bad that, with the council "tinkering round the edges" with local transport plan measures, there is no way we will ever comply with EU law.

Only a congestion charge could save York's air from traffic blight.

It has worked in London with a 20 per cent decrease in car traffic and massive investment in alternatives.

Most York people want a nine per cent decrease in traffic and believe a congestion charge could be effective.

Be brave Lib-Dems, charge for city centre road space or workplace parking, enforce slower speeds and reallocate road space from single- occupant cars.

You must act now. Levels of pollution require drastic measures or else it will commit us to respiratory hell. Why doesn't your York Pride campaign for better air quality?

Anna Semlyen

Author of Cutting Your

Car Use,

Grange Street, York.

Updated: 09:23 Wednesday, May 25, 2005