IN The Press of December 31, it was stated that the total number drivers going over Lendal Bridge and receiving a fine was now 34,500. This was in three months.

This statistic tells me two things. One: drivers have not been warned as well as they should have been, so the signage needs re-setting. Two: the fines now have brought income to City of York Council of £1.7 million.

Darren Richardson, the council’s director of city services, stated that he was “unable to give the total gross and net incomes received” – so let’s hope he reads this letter and then he will know.

Mr Richardson further stated that “fines paid would come to approximately £600,000 after trial costs had been taken into account”. So that suggests that the cost to the council of implementing the closure is £1.2 million so far.

I wonder if the council was aware how much it would cost to implement the closure scheme. This cost will still be there presumably if no one drives over the bridge, and no income from fines is produced.

My figures are based on a fine of £50. Adjustment can be made if I got that figure wrong.

Stuart Wilson, Vesper Drive, Acomb, York.

 

• THE seemingly interminable arguments concerning the closure of Lendal Bridge and the acres of internet comments on The Press pages really do not seem to address the fundamental issues.

It appears to have degenerated into a party-political squabble, with little regard to what has to be done regarding motorised traffic in York city centre. No council of either persuasion has dared to suggest some solutions, which may well be obvious to some of us.

1) No vehicles over 7.5 tons inside to walls; this should include the council’s own service and refuse collection vehicles;

2) The city centre to be a pedestrian zone after 9am, including cyclists – instant fine for breach;

3) Convert some charity shops into houses and flats, with affordable rents, and lower rates for people who work in the city.

These proposals should be the beginning, not the end. Yes, they might be difficult and controversial. Yes, to provide benefits they may take a long time. But York has been here a long time and in the long term, my friend, we all die.

Malcolm J Glover, Lindsey Avenue, York.

 

• IN EVERY local newspaper these days, Gary Verity and his team at Welcome to Yorkshire are admired for bringing millions into the local economy with the Grand Depart for the Tour de France and the Visit York team bring in about £450 million visitor business into the York coffers annually.

By the time the experiment of closing Lendal Bridge during the day has finished, probably some 100,000 visitors will have been fined £60 or £30 for using the bridge and if, as usual, they each moan to four of their friends about it, that will mean half a million potential tourists being advised not to come to stay in York.

Some actions are beyond comprehension!

Len Spray, Trent Avenue, Huntington, York.