I RECENTLY attended an excellent show at the Grand Opera House which was spoilt only by the new parking regulations introduced by City of York Council..

Because my wife and I work on the outskirts of the city we decided to make an evening of it and have a meal in town before going to the show.

When necessity has dictated we use a car. We have always parked in Castle car park, the most convenient for the theatre and the restaurant.

Although opposed to the recently introduced evening parking charges, I knew I was going to have to pay them.

Unfortunately, it was not so easy because on arriving at 5.30pm, which gave us time for a leisurely meal before the performance started, I discovered that not only have parking charges been introduced, but the car park has a three-hour maximum parking period.

So, it is a meal or the theatre, but not both, or we must accept the alternative and park well away from where we want to be.

This will not encourage people to come into the town in the evening, especially in bad weather as it was on the night in question.

The three-hour maximum restriction may be necessary in the daytime, but this should be lifted in the evening so people can enjoy the excellent facilities York has to offer without this inconvenience.

W H Welch,

The Village,

Strensall,

York.

Updated: 09:56 Friday, April 09, 2004