WE attended a show by the Counterfeit Stones on May 20 at the Grand Opera House.

We parked in Clifford's Tower car park and were shocked by the parking prices - it cost us £5. People were coming up to the ticket machines, seeing the parking charges, and going back to their cars and leaving.

Whoever is in charge of the parking charges should realise how many traders they are going to put out of business because of these stupid prices.

These charges are the worst thing ever brought in for visitors and residents of York. If this is the only way City of York Council can make money, things must be in a bad state.

I would definitely visit an out-of-town restaurant if I wanted a meal, just to save on the extortionate parking charges.

Barry Cattley,

Paradise Field,

Easingwold, York.

...READING of the plight of Goodramgate traders (May 25) leaves me with a very sick feeling in the stomach. My worst fears are realised.

Simon Evans of The Canopy claims his trade is 30 per cent down and it cannot be just a coincidence that his trading neighbours are experiencing similar loss of trade.

I know Simon personally because his shop is one of many that I love to visit when I come to York. Simon is an honest businessman who tells it like it is.

The council needs to look at this situation again. I have read similar stories from traders in Gillygate, Walmgate and Micklegate.

These are very often small family businesses whose owners' main concern is to ensure they take enough money to pay their own way, to put bread on the table and to be able to pay City of York Council's inflated council tax bills.

These are businesses, livelihoods, traditions and families. These businesses are York and what makes people such as myself come and visit.

Coun Ann Reid should admit she got it wrong. Have the courage and the dignity to accept this cannot go on. Do a U-turn and do it quickly, for the sake of all concerned.

David L Fairey,

Peterbrough Road,

Lodge Moor, Sheffield.

Updated: 11:17 Thursday, May 27, 2004