Questions on parking

I wrote to the leader of the council complaining that the sudden rash of on-street parking restrictions and the explosion of double yellow lines is damaging the tourist industry.

I accused him of being blind to the fact that entertainment seekers and tourists are abandoning York and voting with their wheels to go to other more traffic-friendly places.

Steve Galloway's reply astounded me! He said that the new parking restrictions and charges were necessary to balance the council budget. He didn't seem to realise the loss of revenue to the city he had caused. He then tried to blame the emergency services, saying they had complained about access to our streets.

I asked John Greenway MP if the council had powers to restrict parking - not for the purpose of alleviating congestion but to make money. He replied that councils can include in their Local Transport Plan measures to reduce traffic levels and congestion - including making charges - provided they are reasonable.

Are the council's parking restrictions on quiet roads and their evening on-street charges congestion-relieving initiatives? Are the levels of charges reasonable?

On the first point I doubt that complaints by the emergency services amount to "congestion". On the latter issue, charges for on-street parking in an evening are exorbitant.

So has the council exceeded its powers?

Allan Charlesworth,

Willow Grove,

Earswick,

York.

...I DON'T want to regurgitate all the very real and serious concerns that traders and locals throughout York and the surrounding area are voicing with regard to high evening parking charges, but please can I balance the contradictory stats in your article ("City blooms despite charges", July 26), which said accommodation in York and areas boomed in June and that visitor attractions rose by 12 per cent.

Ergo these figures indicate the majority of visitors to the city were the residents of the hotels and guest houses. And those who did come by car would be parked up at their hostelry wouldn't they? Only a minority would therefore incur parking charges by driving into the city.

Now if the council had received a barrage of complaints saying all the car parks (Park & Ride included) were completely full every evening, they'd have a case.

Also, if the first three readers' letters in the same edition are an example, then these evening charges pose a real threat, as devastating as the floods of 2000, to York's future tourism business.

David Brooks MHCIMA,

General Manager,

Best Western,

Dean Court Hotel,

Duncombe Place,

York.

...HAVING recently moved to York from Oxford, I am surprised by the level of car-park charges that have been put in place.

To expect people to pay such an extortionate rate during the evening hours is quite simply crazy.

Surely the idea is to attract people into York during the evening so as to enjoy all that the city has to offer, especially when public transport does not cater for all those living outside the city?

Not only that, but the boards on display in the parking areas are less than user-friendly. I have stood and studied them (along with many others I might add) and still can't make head nor tail of them.

There is just too much information which makes it confusing. It needs to be simplified ... and, yes, I have had an Oxford education!

SP Roberts,

Church Lane,

Nether Poppleton,

York.

...TO quote a well known elderly citizen, "I don't believe it!" That was my reaction when I entered Gillygate car park at 10.45am last Friday.

I could have parked anywhere and when I went to the machine I suddenly realised why: £7 for five hours, what a short-sighted approach to attract visitors.

I was fortunate enough to be trained at St Johns 1968-71 and instantly discovered what a tremendously beautiful city York was.

Like every other part of our country, we are slowly becoming clogged with vehicles and York is no exception.

I presume that the increased charges are to cover a multitude of things, to discourage city centre traffic, to encourage the use of Park and Ride, to reduce environmental damage to the city, to make it much more pleasant to stroll around and to cover the shortcomings of the city council.

The city has spent time and money promoting itself and when suddenly its popularity grows, slaps on this extortionate car parking amount. I do have great sympathy for any business trying to attract trade while the council now seems intent on driving people away.

York is a beautiful city and should be shared and protected at the same time. I am not certain that astronomical parking charges are the way to promote the city.

Steve Mansfield,

North Elkington Lane,

Fotherby,

Louth.

Updated: 11:27 Friday, July 30, 2004