I WRITE to ask if I can have free public transport from my home each time I wish to go into town ('Council staff get free park and ride', February 20).

I want to encourage less use of cars in the town centre.

After all someone has to set an example, I mean, those people who use their cars to get to and from work are polluting our air.

Nurses and doctors at York District Hospital use their cars for work and pay to park in the staff car park all day.

Hospital visitors queue for hours just so they can visit friends, relatives or attend appointments.

Some people even pay to park cars outside their own homes, now, isn't that loyalty?!

I pay to park outside work. If I could have free transport in to work I would be setting an example.

Who cares if the council tax is going up, or the rents increase, that will pay for it, won't it?

Ms M Logan,

Acomb, York.

...WHAT is going on at City of York Council? We are threatened with an increase in council tax of somewhere near ten per cent, then mysteriously that figure drops down.

Next we are being robbed of £150,000 as council employees get free travel on the buses.

This is literally highway robbery and I suggest someone does a very quick U-turn to save the aforementioned amount and the cash for administrating the system, which I guess would cost more than £200,000.

Now we hear the council is dragging its feet over repairs to its houses. So where is the money going? It obviously is not being spent where it should!

Jeremy Banyard,

Bramham Grove,

Acomb, York.

...I READ with disgust your article regarding free Park and Ride for council staff. As a government employee I believe this is a waste of council tax.

Is the council tax set to rise to help pay this bill? And is why it is set to rise by so much more than inflation?

As a midwife I have to pay to park at the hospital. Is there one rule for local government staff and another for national government staff?

Some bright spark will probably say I should get a bus to work.

Unfortunately since the change in routes and times I can no longer get to work on time by bus.

My faith in City of York Council has been knocked once again.

Last year its representatives stated that the Oaken Grove School site would not be sold off for building. This question was raised at the public meeting with a categorical denial that houses were to be built on the site.

Perhaps they need the money to go to pay the Park and Ride fares.

Karen Stead,

Forestgate,

Haxby, York.

...CITY of York Council employees receive subsidised Park and Ride facilities and most of the people you interviewed considered it "unfair".

What hypocrisy and nonsense!

I am not a council employee, I am a local taxpayer and I applaud the move.

If the council had simply increased wage/salary levels by £650 a year, would there still be the same level of fuss? I doubt it.

The council has attempted to target a serious and growing problem in York - traffic congestion. Instead of complaining from the sideline, you should do likewise.

The council is having to pay for this "perk" and no doubt it will be classed as a benefit in kind and therefore taxable.

I receive perks in my job. Many employees have employer-subsidised cars. Staff at my local supermarket get discount on goods.

Why should council employees not be allowed such perks?

Neil Raw,

Oriel Grove,

Clifton, York.

Updated: 11:57 Saturday, February 23, 2002