COUNCILLOR Tracey Simpson-Laing (Letters, July 2) knows very well that daytime car park use has been decreasing for two years following Labour's decision to increase charges by a whopping 30 per cent in 2002, and another 20 per cent in their final budget of 2003, leaving a huge hole in their calculations that we now have to fill.

I am sure she is also aware that adding together car park use, increased Park & Ride use (up another 8.9 per cent last year) and last year's 18 per cent increase in bus use means that there are just as many people coming into the city centre in the day.

In addition, evening parking has not decreased. Figures show that there are at least the same number of people parking in car parks in the evenings now as there were parking in car parks and on-street before the introduction of charges.

The number of tickets sold in car parks after 6pm in May was 1,600 more than in April.

As to Coun Simpson-Laing's claim that their savings proposed at budget time would have solved all the problems, in reality Labour's "alternative" budget was an ill-thought out mishmash of last minute ideas which relied on raiding council reserves and cutting jobs.

Coun Ann Reid,

Executive member for planning and transport,

Grassholme,

York.

...WHAT excellent hearing Coun Ann Reid has, picking up on a lone voice that has called for persistent offenders to have their cars clamped (June 30).

What I don't understand is how Coun Reid has so far failed to hear the unprecedented roar about the new parking arrangements ruining trade, affecting tourism and unfairly taxing those of us who want to try and live in this beautiful city but are not rich enough to own a driveway or garage.

The clamping policy surely wouldn't just be another way of raising yet more money, would it?

A Kennedy,

St John's Street,

York.

...HOW much longer do we have to suffer the constant bickering between the Lib Dems and Labour over the new parking charges?

At least once a week we hear from Coun Ann Reid about what a good idea the new charges are and that we can get a frequent user pass if we want to. The very next day we hear from Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing about how bad these charges are and that Labour would not have stooped so low.

Maybe Labour would not have stooped that low, but they would have introduced some sort of money-making scheme, because they always do.

Instead of looking to where they can save money, they always plan to spend it and then look for ways of raising money. What a stupid way to behave. It's a good job my family finances were not run that way or I'd be bankrupt in a fortnight.

I have an answer for all those who are sick of this party political wrangling.

At the next local elections, forget party loyalty and vote for your local independent candidate, whoever he or she may be.

They will have local problems at heart and will vote with their heart not with their allegiances.

Then maybe we can have some sensible running of our once-great city.

Jeremy Banyard,

Bramham Grove,

Acomb,

York.

...CONGRATULATIONS on your campaign against the ridiculous parking regime and charges instigated by the city council. Surely most car owners, both residents and visitors, must support you.

Keep up the campaign.

S Goodrum,

Manor Garth,

Wigginton,

York.

Updated: 10:11 Tuesday, July 06, 2004