MAY I suggest that Graham Horne go and live in central London if he is such a fan of congestion charging (Letters, February 22).

I suspect the introduction of this scheme within York would not affect Bishopthorpe.

I am a driver on weekdays, a pedestrian and cyclist at weekends and evenings. In order to carry out my business, I carry around nearly a quarter of a ton of tools and carry out maintenance for housing associations, private customers and the city council. Congestion charging in York would not concern me as I would ensure my customers bore this cost.

I am in favour of reducing car use, particularly for shopping and the school run. I am concerned, however, at the council tactics of barricading the public highway. It seems to me that these policies are creating more congestion and pollution.

I am appalled at the amount of taxpayers' money wasted installing automatic barriers at Victoria Bar when a simple No Entry sign would suffice. I pay road tax and other taxes in order to use the highway and this is now being denied.

Tommy Harrison,

Millfield Road,

Scarcroft Road, York.

Updated: 10:14 Wednesday, March 05, 2003