I WONDER if the council planners have considered the possible deterioration in the Park and Ride service at Askham Bar that various pending development initiatives pose.

The proposed reduction of car parking spaces at St George's Field will put more pressure on the Park and Ride service as drivers who currently use the car park are diverted elsewhere.

The projected redevelopment of York College could mean the end of the overflow car park at holiday times and the newly-imposed maximum three hours parking at Tesco Askham Bar car means that drivers who used to park there will be unable to park when the Park and Ride facility is full.

With the proposed redevelopment of the land behind the station hopefully creating more jobs, and the hoped for increase in tourists, the Askham Bar facility will be over-stretched if it has to absorb the potential increase in cars needing a parking space without additional spaces.

Perhaps it is time to consider the development of a new Park and Ride for the south side of the city. The current coach park at the racecourse could be a possible site.

Or perhaps there might be a tasteful multi-storey car park at Askham Bar.

Whatever the decisions are on the proposed developments it is clear that parking on the southern approaches to the city needs urgent consideration, even if that means that some plans are put on hold.

Anthony Still,

Barbers Drive,

Copmanthorpe,

York.

Updated: 09:55 Thursday, April 15, 2004