I AM not surprised at readers' outrage over the huge increase in Respark charges. This is yet another tax on residents who own vehicles.

The revenue does, however, not appear to have improved the public transport infrastructure. Yes, Park and Ride is a good idea but is of little use to the residents of central York. It seems this council, or the previous one, showed little courage or imagination in its approach to traffic control.

The council appears to have only two solutions; to increase parking charges and to block off public highways. At the same time they continue to approve large development schemes within the city which include parking facilities.

Developers know they can achieve higher profits if they provide parking spaces, while at the same time advertising the "central location".

This is surely a contradiction.

Perhaps the time has come to start refusing planning permission if parking is included, or halt further central residential development altogether.

Charlie Stone,

Millfield Road, York.

...I AM staying in York and I am surprised at the controversy generated by car parking charges.

In Sheffield we pay £1.20 an hour up until 8.30pm and 60p an hour for meter parking.

Unlike York residents, Sheffield residents do not get a discount.

I am a frequent visitor to York and I am happy to pay the parking charges, as indeed I am when I visit other parts of the country. Your city is looking particularly beautiful and clean at the moment and I suggest a small increase in parking charges is a price worth paying to maintain, or improve, this standard.

D Brookfield,

Fraser Crescent,

Sheffileld.

...I FIND Coun Vassie's latest comments on parking even stranger (Letters, May 31). It appears he really has not understood all the concerns of Goodramgate and Fossgate traders.

Coun Vassie suggests that if staff find funding the £84 a year annual evening parking permit difficult, employers could help out. That could be a costly exercise.

Consider the implications for restaurant and public house staff parking in car parks on an evening.

As someone who for many years worked in these trades I can say staff are lucky to finish work before midnight.

Does he really think it is advisable for workers to walk from Fossgate to Peel Street or from Goodramgate to Union Terrace, alone?

What businesses and residents are asking for is a comprehensive review of evening parking policies and the effect they are having on city centre trade.

What is clear from this month's planning and transport report is that the Liberal Democrats are making a lot of money out of this policy, to fill the holes "their" policies have created since May 2003.

Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing,

Labour spokesperson for planning and transport,

City of York Council,

Salisbury Road,

York.

...THE stream of letters complaining about the recent changes to parking and charges shows that this ill-conceived Lib Dem policy remains hugely unpopular.

The changes were brought in without prior consultation, and the concessions extracted so far have been hurriedly thought out in response to the public outcry - and have themselves created a range of further anomalies.

So far, businesses in streets such as Micklegate and Fossgate complain of falling trade; churches are affected during mid-week services such as funerals and groups are pulling out of renting their halls.

Meanwhile, residents in ResPark areas see their permit charges doubled while those with free 60 minute bays find it harder to park because of the knock-on effect of motorists avoiding new pay and display charges elsewhere.

Even the nuns in the Bar Convent see bookings cancelled for their bed and breakfast rooms (Evening Press, May 22).

With these concerns in mind, at the April council meeting I asked what was intended by the Lib Dem's trumpeted six-month review. Their transport supremo, Coun Ann Reid, said it would cover the effect on certain traders and other "operational issues" - which indicates the ruling party will seek to limit their review as much as possible.

Labour councillors will continue to press for a full and fair review of this ill-thought-out and incoherent policy.

Coun Sandy Fraser,

Micklegate ward councillor,

Millfield Road,

York.

Updated: 11:27 Wednesday, June 02, 2004