PETER Evely, head of network management at City of York Council, wrote regarding race traffic for Ascot Week (July 19).

For a man who has devoted a large part of his working life to causing as much chaos, disruption and obstruction to the free flow of traffic in and around York as possible to print such a letter beggars belief.

He wrote: "Much thought and effort has gone into planning for Ascot. We do not want to spend our day battling traffic jams if by careful planning now we can avoid it."

Will someone please tell Mr Evely that is what we do all the time in this city, thanks to his measures. It just serves to illustrate what many people think about our planners: they have no regard for the needs of local residents but are prepared to go to any lengths to satisfy the needs of visitors.

The sooner we find someone who has a genuine interest in York and its residents, the sooner we may find some sensible answers to the traffic problems. But I will not hold my breath.

John Miller,

Hunters Close,

Dunnington,

York.

...I FAIL to see how York TUC staging a traffic go-slow during the Ebor race meeting will be noticed (July 26).

After all, racegoers are always staging a traffic go-slow during every meeting when they clog up York's streets.

As for the row about parking charges, I was surprised to find that parking charges previously only applied for part of the day.

Dr Duncan Campbell,

Albemarle Road,

York.

Updated: 09:59 Thursday, July 29, 2004