NOT everyone has been persuaded of the case for night-time parking charges, the Diary is sad to report.

Despite a series of blistering Evening Press articles - now considered a shoo-in for the Pulitzer - by York's giant of politics, the SFG, there are still grumblers out there.

Coun Stephen Fred Galloway will be disappointed to learn that other nearby local authorities reliant on tourism offer motorists a far better deal, even taking into account his proposed parking discounts for York residents.

Jean Holdsworth writes succinctly from Bridlington. "Down by the harbour, parking all day 80p a hour. Parking all night, 50p. Generous ice creams 50p-75p.

"And yes, you are being ripped off in York." (Even the postcard this message came on was politically up to date. Of the "saucy seaside" variety, it showed an airline check-in girl lifting a Scotsman's kilt, explaining: "Just looking for concealed weapons, sir!")

MEANWHILE, regular Diary correspondent Dale "Minnie The" Minks poses an intriguing constitutional question on parking.

What would happen if World Sidecar Champion Steve Webster, Dame Judi Dench and 2 Signals Regiment left their vehicles on Scarcroft Lane? An unlikely scenario, true, but bear with us.

The connection between these fine men and women is they have all been made freemen of York.

And a sign on Scarcroft Lane states categorically that "This wall and carriage road belong exclusively to the Freemen of Micklegate Ward".

Does this mean that freemen can ignore the single yellow line, and use the lane as if it were "their own driveway", asks Dale?

THE SFG will be even more dismayed to hear of the scepticism directed at his own Park & Pride public transport service.

A maths-minded reader saw the report in the Evening Press stating that 8,000 people had been carried into the city in 15 days, but challenges the claim that this amounts to a roaring success.

Those who don't like sums, look away now.

"8,000 in 15 days equals 533 a day," he writes.

"If the buses ran for ten hours, that is 53 people an hour. Assume the buses run every 15 minutes (ie four per hour) average passengers: 13.

"A hell of a lot of empty seats is hardly a success!"

FURTHER to our item about former York ghost walker Trevor Rooney, anyone who wishes to research their own spooky trail should check out York Reference Library which has a display of books on the subject.

THE Radio Times for next week is awash with references to Scarborough.

First there is a location report from Emmerdale's trip to the resort, to film the showdown between Rodney and Jack.

Unfortunately, when Jack punched Rodney, the crowd of Yorkshire onlookers were so emotionally involved that they cheered, ruining the shot.

However, the real stars of the show were the donkeys.

"All they needed was a lump of sugar and they were ready for another take," an insider said.

A few pages on and the magazine carries an interview with ex Scarborough lad turned movie star Sir Ben Kingsley.

"Actors are plonked on the fringes of society, but we're crucial to the survival of the tribe because storytelling is one of the oldest activities," he emotes.

Later he says: "Luvvies? Can't understand that word."

Ahem. It's what you are, Sir Ben.

WELL done the Goole Times for its report on the manhunt for Mark Robson. As everybody else in Britain knew, his name was Mark Hobson.

Write to: The Diary, Chris Titley, The Evening Press, 76-86 Walmgate, York YO1 9YN

Email diary@ycp.co.uk

Telephone (01904) 653051 ext 337

Updated: 10:03 Friday, August 06, 2004