READERS of your front page headline 'Clamp City' (July 8) could be forgiven for thinking the council will now be clamping any vehicle that has received three or more penalty charge notices regardless of whether those notices have been paid.

I would like to point out that the new policy specifically applies only to those vehicles that have three or more unpaid penalty charge notices in a period of six months.

This would apply to approximately one vehicle per week. Experience shows that a very high proportion of these vehicles have no road tax.

Peter Evely,

Head of network management,

City of York Council,

St Leonard's Place,

York.

...I WAS amazed that Mr Dave Dee has the cheek to moan about parking in Piccadilly (July 9).

There are always vehicles parked outside his premises. These are most usually his vehicles, and maybe he can not see any queues for the nearby car park because his vehicles are blocking the view.

Mr Dee should remember that for several years now there have been yellow lines outside his premises. I suggest that he checks his highway code as he and his staff do not apparently know what they mean.

His drop in trade might just be because people do not want to buy his goods and it has nothing at all do with the charges, which have been in force in Piccadilly for quite some time now.

David Barker,

Constantine Avenue,

Tang Hall, York.

...WILL someone please enlighten me. There is a small, cobbled area next to Barstow House where the Samaritans used to park their vehicles ("Driven Out", July 1).

I thought that section belonged to the council's housing department and not highways. The Samaritans have been parking there some time, with the consent of the manager of Barstow House.

Readers will be aware that Barstow House does have its own parking. What is debatable is who owns the cobbled area, housing or highways. This needs clarifying.

Keith Chapman,

Custance Walk,

Nunnery Lane, York.

Updated: 09:56 Monday, July 12, 2004