With the festivities of the Christmas season a fond memory, it is time to turn our minds to New Year's resolutions.

Personally, I've given up on the usual "lose weight, healthier life style" etc.

Having spent 50 years in my personal and professional life fighting for equal opportunities, I've decided that this year will be the year to battle for equal opportunities for that much maligned species in York, the motorist.

For most of the past year, due to a health problem, I unfortunately lost my licence. On the return of this valuable - and to me essential - facility, I commented to a very experienced driver friend that I was wary of going back on to the motorway. Accompanied by sarcastic laughter his comment was ''with the traffic mismanagement you have in York, motorway driving is child's play!"

He then went on to outline the many and varied forms of self-inflicted misery that motorists in York are required to deal with and the resultant effects on business and the well-being of the residents.

And so my idea was born: to set up a pressure group to ensure that motorists' views are more fully catered for and that motorists are given a voice.

I know many, many residents are sick and tired of seeing public money spent on facilities that are used by a very small minority of people, while the people who make the largest contributions to our roads are totally ignored, or worse.

So if you believe that it is about time that the motorist's voice was heard, please email me on elizabeth.edge3@btinternet.com or write to me at the address below.

Elizabeth Edge,

26 Parkside Close, Holgate,

York, Y024 4ET

Updated: 10:15 Monday, January 09, 2006