COUN Alexander’s plan to extend the hours of the traffic ban in York would be good news if it actually happened.

Indeed, I have argued without success that this should be done with one of his predecessors (The Press, June 11).

It would also be good news if smaller delivery vans were used. But far and away the most important reform needed in this field is to enforce the footstreet hours which already exist. As it is drivers and cyclists can plead that “they did not know”. Signs should be clear, specify the hours of closure and written in large letters which nobody could miss. Also, speaking as a disabled person, I plead that the council should stand up to the disabled lobby, not least because disabled badges are apparently distributed like confetti. Why disabled and pretenders should be able to drive through city streets supposedly barred to everyone else is difficult to understand.

What is needed is physical barriers and personnel to make sure that the ban is enforced. Please, Councillor Alexander and colleagues, either make footstreets a reality or cancel them altogether.

David Rubinstein, Portland Street, York.

• LABOUR introduced pedestriansiation of the city centre when we were last in control of the council.

The Labour local election manifesto committed us to extend the hours of pedestriansiation of the city centre. The beginnings of this work and an intention to extend the geography of predestrinsiation was announced on Saturday. I was pleased to read the Conservatives have independently asked the council to look at extension of the geography of the city centre. The Conservative manifesto said the Conservatives would “pursue greater pedestrianisation in York’s centre”. I am pleased there is agreement on this issue between Labour in control of the council and the Conservatives.

Together we make up over three quarters of York’s councillors and I think together we can improve the attractiveness of the city centre to shoppers and visitors whilst addressing issues of safety and enforcement.

When Labour agrees with the Conservatives, we will work together for the good of York.

This is such a time and Labour will gladly co-operate with the scrutiny process over this issue to deliver a shared manifesto pledge.

Coun James Alexander, Labour Leader of City of York Council.

• HAS it taken a scrape between two delivery vehicles to open Coun James Alexander’s eyes to the obvious fact that the streets of York are narrow?

Has he never been in Stonegate before 10.30am. Maybe not, but I don’t recommend it. But that’s because it already has a 10.30am delivery restriction, so it’s crammed to bursting and maybe that’s a clue to the effect of a 10.30am blanket restriction for the city centre.

And here is another crunch, and it has been said before, delivery vehicles and blue-badged cars parked randomly (as they always are) do not mix. One or other has to go to free up space.

But which one is more important?

Peter Elliott, Wetherby Road, York.

• WHILE agreeing with James Alexander on an extended ban for deliveries, it worries some of us who think that the present ban we have now does not work because it is not policed correctly.

This also applies to Coppergate, Stonegate and Piccadilly.

I would also like to thank David Quarrie for informing us of the actions of Barnsley Council in trying to cut down swearing in their town (Letters, June 11).

Barry Hamer, Thief Lane, York