HERE are some more views from readers about York's new parking charges and restrictions:

"I have a choice. I will be going elsewhere where the local authorities are more inviting."

Max Goodwin, Lime Tree Avenue, Easingwold.

"I lived in York for nine years but had to move. I still kept my love of York and was a regular visitor, using the Park & Ride. However, I had two recent experiences with colleagues for business meetings and found it dreadful. They could not believe how difficult and costly it was to park. It is unlikely we will use York again. On Thursday July 1, I arrived for a reasonably short meeting to find I had to pay £4.80 for three hours. I had my partner, Patricia, with me as we had hoped to eat out later, after my meeting. The parking charges put us off. We visited a nice pub on the way home on the A59. We work in Leeds and it costs us £5.80 for all day parking (ten hours). If the current council think they can raise funds through drivers - think again. I currently reside near Ripon, where it costs me 50p to £1, or is free."

Douglas Edwards, Maple Garth, Melmerby, Ripon.

"As residents of Easingwold, we regularly came into York for a meal and theatre evening. Now, with the end to free evening parking, it means further parking charges for the evening. Alternative parking such as Park & Ride finishes too early, so we shall now look elsewhere for our meals and entertainment."

Peter Fraser, Back Lane, Easingwold.

"Recently, I thought it might a good idea to go and have a meal at Pizza Hut in York on Father's Day. So we parked up at the Castle car park. To my astonishment, I had to pay over £3 for a measly two hours parking! After about an hour-and-a-half, we decided to have a brisk walk up the Shambles. York, I am sad to say, was like a ghost town. Even the ghosts have packed their bags. Walking down Coppergate, we felt ill at ease, with a few blokes looking a bit worse for wear slumped on a park bench. Anyway, with a few minutes left on the parking ticket, we made our way back to the car, and there was the dreaded parking attendant hovering about my car, ready to pounce with a penalty ticket.

No, he didn't get me this time, and he won't get me the next time either, because there won't be a next time.

When I served 12 years, eight in Germany, four in York, I sometimes wonder why I gave the best years of my life to uphold the freedom that this country enjoys."

John Butler, Heather Close, Selby.

Updated: 10:01 Wednesday, July 07, 2004