Letters about evening parking charges have been very interesting during the last few weeks.

More mention should be made of the hundreds of people employed in York at night.

The city prides itself on being a tourist city and employs many who work in theatres, restaurants, pubs and clubs.

I have worked in York for more than ten years. During this time I have paid to access the city during the daytime and have used the Castle car park in the evening. An additional charge of £4.20 each evening - £84 a month - will make my life, and that of many others, extremely difficult.

Those of us who earn a modest income cannot afford to pay such evening charges.

Catherine Gale,

Acaster Lane,

Bishopthorpe, York.

...I OBJECT to the parking charges in The Crescent, Blossom Street.

We have been here for seven years and my clients have found it extremely convenient to park for up to an hour outside our offices.

The introduction of charges will clearly have an effect on my business, the outcome will mean us looking for accommodation further out of the city.

Is it the intention of the council to drive people and businesses out of the central area of York and turn the city into a residential wasteland of flats and empty shops?

It may only be a relatively small charge (at the moment), but these costs, along with the inconvenience, will probably force us out to the 'desert' areas of Clifton Moor and Monks Cross.

Mike Fining,

Fining Associates,

The Crescent,

Blossom Street,

York.

...I WAS astonished by Ann Reid's letter (February 7) about the increase in parking charges. Did she actually read it herself before submitting it?

In one sentence she states that the increase is only small, especially in comparison with the increases that the previous council imposed which, she says, led to a decrease in city centre car park usage.

This just doesn't make sense. I can see the planning and transport committee: "Well the car parks are not getting used as much because of the previous large increases. What are we going to do about this?"

A scratch of heads, rub of chins, loosening of cycling clips and then the answer dawns on them. All at the same time they declare: "Let's increase the charges and the charging hours."

Clive Appleyard,

Westminster Road, York.

Updated: 08:46 Saturday, February 14, 2004