IN your report 'Boulder bother' (September 3), it was stated that Nether Poppleton Parish Council had blocked the bridlepath to the river with two large rocks because "locals" had complained that cars parking there were "spoiling the attractive area".

I was told, however, by the clerk that this was done after only one local resident pointed out it is an offence to drive motor vehicles on to common land. It seems my friend David Benson who, as a disabled angler, is now unable to get to his favourite fishing peg, was correct in his comment that it was a "knee-jerk" reaction.

The parish council also blocked a nearby access with tree stumps back in the 1970s which were almost immediately removed by "persons unknown" to the council. On that occasion councillors decided not to reinstate them after fears that access to emergency vehicles would be hindered.

The chairman of the parish council has now said that there is no alternative, but a sign saying "no parking" and "access only for disabled and emergency vehicles" is surely a sensible compromise?

I hope councillors will reconsider their action and decide to remove the boulders to again allow unrestricted access that has existed for many decades.

Paul S Cordock,

Durlston Drive,

Strensall, York.

Updated: 09:41 Thursday, September 08, 2005