THE York Hospitality Association is concerned about two aspects of the City of York Council's car parking changes.

The proposed time change from 6pm to 9pm would have serious implications for the small businesses in the city centre which do not have their own car parking.

Customers for cafes, restaurants, wine bars and public houses invariably come into the city for a night out at between 7pm and 9pm and find some reasonably close car parking space which is free, park up, and then enjoy their night out.

As a group they are making a serious contribution to the financial well-being of many small businesses who, from the income, can pay their rates, taxes and so on.

If this ease of car parking were removed I fear for the long-term well-being of our inner city small businesses.

The staff need to come to work a little earlier and, at the moment, can find free car parking with reasonable ease.

Payment for car parking would seriously erode their take-home pay and I believe a wages and recruitment spiral could start which may result in the closure of many of the smaller, but presently successful, city centre businesses. Much the same concerns apply to restrictions on car parking in Micklegate, Walmgate and The Crescent.

We note that the council intends to charge for evening parking in York, but is not proposing to provide a service of equal quality to the daytime provision.

As we understand their plan, they do not provide for keeping Piccadilly and Shambles car parks open or maintain the Park and Ride service during the period of charging.

These proposals amount to an increase in charging without any increase in services.

Richard M Masefield,

Chairman,

York Hospitality Association,

East End,

Sheriff Hutton,

York.

...THE council proposes extending car parking charges to 9pm to encourage more use of the public transport service later in the evening.

Will some bright spark on the council tell me how we can be encouraged to use a bus service which doesn't exist in this area after 6pm?

Mrs E Vine,

Penyghent Avenue,

York.

..."YELLOW alert for City footstreets" (December 12), revealed plans to paint yellow lines in some historic streets of our city.

What a good idea! But what good will it do when drivers ignore all signs anyway and have done for years?

As for cars parking on an evening, it's just the same throughout the day and still as difficult for emergency vehicles to get through.

Now is the time to clamp down on all drivers who ignore the signs. Give the police and community police authority to impose on-the-spot fines.

What about a curfew between 5.30pm and 9am. Safety must come first?

P J Marwick,

Forge Close,

Jockey Lane, York.

Updated: 10:56 Thursday, December 18, 2003