The Press has finally hit rock bottom with its cheap and ill-tempered rant about parking passes.

Allow me to take it personally.

On being elected two years ago I found our basic councillor allowance of about £5,862 had been calculated to ensure we received the equivalent of the minimum wage for the hours we were expected to put in.

How many people at the Evening Press work for the minimum wage? I have had good reason to be grateful for the car park pass that is provided to me as part of my job, it enables me to drive into town and get to meetings on time without having to fill in countless forms that a council employee would have to be paid to process.

Why don't I come in on the bus and spend the day in town?

Firstly, the last bus to Wheldrake leaves York before many afternoon meetings end.

Secondly, I have two jobs; one serving the city of York and the residents of Wheldrake Ward who elected me, and another to earn the money to pay the mortgage and raise a young family.

If you think I have the time to do a full-time job, take my children to and from school, and cycle 16-mile round trips to York up to three times a day to attend meetings as a councillor you are in cloud cuckoo land.

Or is the Press suggesting only frugal pensioner cyclists living within two miles of the city centre and with time on their hands should be councillors?

In the two years I have been a councillor I have worked twice as many hours as I am paid for and I have played my part in helping the council secure funding that is many times the amount I have received for my services. I know many councillors could give you similar stories. I shoud be more than happy to explain what it is I do and the hours I put in, or is that not as interesting as playing to the gallery?

Coun Christian Vassie,

Blake Court,

Wheldrake, York.

Updated: 10:39 Monday, July 04, 2005