K. Chapman of Harrogate pontificated (Letters, August 5) about York's alleged former anti-car and anti-shopping policies, and blamed the late Rod Hills for these so-called evils.
Perhaps we should, experimentally, remove York's traffic restrictions for a week and unleash years of suppressed demand upon its medieval road layout.
The outcome would be instant gridlock. This would affect those who need to drive cars, as well as those who believe it is demeaning to travel by any other means.
The changes in retail patterns would have occurred, regardless of which political party ruled York's council.
Many of these are the legacy of the Margaret Thatcher years when unbridled car use influenced national guidance to local authority planners.
I confidently predict that Harrogate's ruling Tories will ultimately have to go the same way as York, or their town will also become clogged up with motor traffic. It will become like Great Yorkshire Show day - all year round!
Paul Hepworth,
Windmill Rise,
Holgate, York.
Updated: 11:02 Thursday, August 07, 2003
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