LIBERAL Democrat Councillor Ann Reid is still trying to duck responsibility for the parking charges fiasco which is costing York and its business community so dearly. She stresses that Labour increased parking charges in the past (June 22).

But Labour did not introduce evening parking charges; we did not put parking meters in the marginal shopping streets where trade could be badly affected and we did not start charging for previously-free short stay bays in ResPark zones.

At the budget meeting we proposed alternative savings that would have made these new charges unnecessary. Unfortunately, Coun Reid and her colleagues did not listen... again.

Now former Lib Dem candidate Nigel Ayre is trying to blame the Government for York's parking policies (Letters, June 28). The Lib Dems must take responsibility for their decisions.

The Lib Dem council chose to introduce these charges - and they could choose to scrap them if they wished.

If Coun Ann Reid and her Lib Dem colleagues still seriously believe the new parking charges were a sensible and well thought-out way to balance the council budget they should say so.

If, however, they are willing to admit that the new charges were a ghastly mistake, they should take action quickly before businesses start to go under and some community groups are lost for good.

Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing,

Labour spokeswoman, planning and transport,

Salisbury Road, York.

Updated: 09:46 Friday, July 02, 2004