I WAS disappointed to read that the Liberal Democrat councillors are upsetting businesses and individuals who criticise their parking policies.

As we have seen, this has been both through the Evening Press and in private letters sent to those who have written to this paper or have been seen to add their names to this publication's campaign.

What this seems to suggest is an attempt to "pick off" individuals from the campaign.

York citizens should feel free to question and challenge their elected representatives - that is democracy in action.

But councillors should not respond to individuals in ways they find intimidating or intrusive.

Let's continue the debate on parking charges out in the open - no York resident should feel under attack or bullied simply for expressing their opinion.

Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing,

Labour spokesperson for transport and planning,

Salisbury Road,

Leeman Road, York.

...THE great parking debate continues and looks set to run for some time.

On my travels through York (but not stopping to park) I notice that places such as Lowther Street and Bootham, which had areas allowing free parking for up to one hour, are now are guarded by meters.

The highest number of vehicles I have seen has been three and even then one had a disabled sticker and another a residents' parking permit. No doubt before these meters were installed a costing exercise was carried out. How long will it take to recoup the capital expenditure and installation costs?

William Arnold,

Rawcliffe Drive, York.

...THE fiasco surrounding city centre car parking charges and the imminent closure of the Barbican Centre both demonstrate how remote our elected councillors are from the needs of the people they are supposed to represent.

It is time to form a residents' association that could promote its own independent candidates for the city council who would represent the needs of the community rather than follow irrelevant party political policies.

Robert Batchelor,

Otterwood Lane,

Acomb, York.

Updated: 11:57 Friday, August 13, 2004