I WAS pleased to read the May 12 letter supporting the past achievements of Dave Merrett as council leader and latterly cabinet member for transport.

At a pre-election hustings meeting in Holgate, the prospective parliamentary candidates all accepted my assertion that York will never ever be a motorists’ paradise.

There was a realistic acceptance that alternative travel options must continue to be improved. New city councillors must display similar realism, by embracing the goal of our current Local Transport Plan, to further reduce car dependency.

It is heartening to see that the message preached for so long by Dave Merrett is slowly becoming embedded in our city’s psyche.

The author of the letter praising Dave lives in Easingwold, and Ken Spray suggested (Letters, May 13) suggests this somehow disenfranchised him from supporting York’s transport strategy.

Commuters from outside York now have the option of using the Park&Ride, Park&Pedal, car sharing and short-term city centre car hire.

Those who need to use their own car throughout will be heartened by the large number of cars parked at the P&R sites, which will make their own essential car journey into York much easier.

Paul Hepworth, Windmill Rise, York.