LATER this year I shall be staying with friends in Kent and will be visiting Canterbury.

I sent for a brochure on this city and I give below an extract from the "how to get there" section.

"Motorists visiting Canterbury are encouraged to use the city's fast and efficient Park and Ride service. This facility is frequent, excellent value for money and easy to use.

"For £2* per car a driver and up to six additional passengers can board the regular shuttle buses and enjoy free, unlimited return travel to the city centre". (*Parking charges subject to review.)

I used this service some years ago and found it was far better than York's.

For a start one can return to the car park as many times as one likes to deposit shopping etc. Also, to enter the car park one drives up to the barrier, obtains a token from a machine - rather like entering a car wash - and then uses this it to board the bus.

When one wishes to leave one either goes to a kiosk or a machine, pays the fee and then uses the token to exit the car park. This means the car park is very secure.

This method also means the buses load much more quickly because fares are not collected on the bus and also, so far as commuters are concerned, could encourage car sharing.

I hate to be cynical but comparing this service with York's one cannot help wondering if, while it is a good idea, the main object is to screw as much money out of the motorist and his passengers as possible.

Mike Usherwood,

Mendip Close,

Huntington, York.

Updated: 09:35 Wednesday, March 16, 2005