CONTRIBUTORS to the St Leonard's closure debate seem to include some car owners who believe that transport problems are created by the city council.

They conveniently forget that their car is everyone else's traffic, and that by driving into York at peak times, they are contributing to congestion and poor air quality.

One correspondent, from Copman-thorpe, might wish to consider using Askham Bar Park & Ride. He can drive or cycle there, and easily hop on a bus. Result - one fewer vehicle bunging up the city centre.

I'm all in favour of city centre access by buses, taxis, cyclists, mobility impaired drivers, delivery, servicing and emergency vehicles, and those who do not have a reasonable transport alternative.

But 60 per cent of peak car journeys into York have but one occupant and are of only a few miles distance.

If a voluntary shift to other transport modes is not forthcoming, then congestion charging for city centre destinations will be inevitable.

Extension of Park & Ride, plus light rail associated with the York Central development, and reopening of urban rail stations, are part of the long term solution.

We owe it to our descendants to start the ball rolling now.

Paul Hepworth,

Windmill Rise,

Holgate,

York.

...I MUST disagree with Paul Hepworth's comments that since part of High Petergate was converted to a footstreet, cyclists who formerly used the route during footstreet hours had to detour via St Leonards Place (November 24).

One only has to stand in the part between Bootham and Deangate during the "closed to vehicles" period to see a steady stream of two wheelers (including occasionally motor cycles) still using this route. This stream is also two way in what is supposed to be a one way street.

Pedestrians are constantly being put at risk by these illegal users.

Alec Acomb,

Hillcrest Avenue,

Nether Poppleton,

York.

Updated: 11:53 Monday, December 01, 2003