THERE has been much publicity about the proposed pay and display car parking restrictions soon to be imposed in Micklegate.

But little has been said about City of York Council's intention to extend this to many other streets.

As a long-established architectural practice on The Mount we will be badly affected by the proposals to alter our existing one-hour free parking on The Mount to pay and display.

While most of our staff do not require cars to travel to work we do have a need for vehicular access for our clients and to load/unload ladders, survey gear etc.

Some while ago, when we considered moving out of the city, we were advised by the Planning Department that a change of use of our office back to residential - it is a Grade II former Georgian House - would be resisted because they did not wish to lose employment opportunities in the city.

We value our location but the council needs to decide where its priorities lie and cherish businesses not drive them out of town locations.

John Ives,

Potts, Parry, Ives and Young,

Chartered Architects,

The Mount, York.

Updated: 09:57 Friday, February 20, 2004