FOLLOWING on from my letter about the problems of parking for rehearsal evenings for York Musical Society (March 20) I write to say that it is not only the cost which is an issue.

Trying to park for rehearsals on a Friday night at the Minster was made nigh on impossible by the imposition of 24-hour restrictions on single yellow lines from Monday to Saturday at nearby locations.

Having discovered this option had also been removed I drove to the Castle car park to discover queues of theatre- goers all facing similar problems.

There is a clear lack of available parking space close to the city centre. The council has not offered alternatives such as Park and Ride into the late evening.

As a lone female I do not feel safe walking any distance to locate my car at night in either an isolated and dark car park or on side streets some distance from where I have spent the evening.

Finally, how Councillor Ann Reid can suggest these measures have been imposed to save a one per cent rise in council tax is beyond me.

Firstly, my bill increased by 13.8 per cent last year and 9.7 per cent this year. Above the national average, I think.

Am I paying the salaries of the people who will have to be employed to check that cars have been parked legally in York?

Or could we do away with this requirement and open the city up once more to those residents and supporters of all the organisations that make York the rich cultural and social place it has been until now?

Claire Sansford,

Lycett Road,

York.

Updated: 10:08 Friday, April 02, 2004