So Coun Galloway says that the council needs the exorbitant fees charged in the city's car parks to subsidise local services.

Well Mr Galloway, I can suggest another way to subsidise local services. Stop paying lottery money salaries to executives within the council.

A number of years ago I was employed by City of York Council in the Museums Service, and at one time we were on strike due to a threat to cut our wages.

During the industrial action the council had the audacity to advertise for a new Director of Museums Services at £50,000 per annum - a great deal more than the previous post holder was paid.

The reason given was that due to falling numbers they had to pay this money to get the right person.

But numbers kept falling, so what did they do? They made it into a trust, the chief officer now being on (if my information is correct) £100,000 per annum, with the directors of both the Castle Museum and Yorkshire Museum being on £50,000 per annum - a total minimum bill of £200,000 per annum for three people.

Come back to reality, Mr Galloway, and stop the gravy train before it is too late. Another way is to go back to the days when councillors did the job for the pride that they held for the city, not for the salaries that you and your cronies now get.

By the way, I have lived in this beautiful city for around 15 years, and in all that time, I have never seen the car parks so empty.

John H Sutherland,

Barfield Road,

Muncaster,

York.

Updated: 10:50 Thursday, May 05, 2005