I FIND it astounding that the council commissioned a report on shops, especially at a time when the city's finances are at such a low ebb (York needs new shops, October 12).

I was under the impression that the problem in York was trying to keep existing shops open and not creating new ones.

I don't suppose anyone on the council has linked the fact that York is failing in the shopping rankings due to the increase in parking charges and a lack of parking spaces. And I didn't need an expensive report to come to that conclusion.

David Hudson,

Huntsmans Walk,

Foxwood,

York.

Updated: 09:30 Tuesday, October 19, 2004