CONTROVERSIAL York parking charges have been defended - because they could help in the battle to save the environment.

Christian Vassie, the Liberal Democrat councillor for Wheldrake, said the real issue behind the charges was not council funding, but global warming.

"We have to find ways of reducing car use, and I believe the public understands this," Coun Vassie said.

"The problem is that we are addicted to our cars.

"We love driving ourselves about. We know we are damaging our world by our activity, we know we should do less of it - but we can't help ourselves."

He said parking charges, along with improved public transport, would encourage people to change their behaviour and help protect the environment.

"Are we ready to face our children and grandchildren and explain that even when we were faced with opportunities to address our behaviour, we simply couldn't be bothered to try?"

He criticised those who believe that such efforts would have little effect.

He said: "We find it difficult to accept that what we do as individuals actually impacts on the health of our planet. We think, 'how can the number of cars in York have any impact on global warming?'

"Unfortunately every other town and city around the world is full of people also thinking this."

He urged both politicians and car drivers to remember that the environment was an important issue in the parking charges debate.

He said: "York is going to have its parking review, but let us not kid ourselves that the solution is to let people drive wherever and whenever they want.

"We can go backwards and forwards debating the fairness or unfairness of York's grant from national government, and the right to park, but let us also remember the bigger picture and what is at stake."

Meanwhile, Coun Vassie has also started replying to Evening Press readers who have written to the paper attacking charges.

The paper reported earlier this week that the councillor had written to businesses who advertised in a recent Evening Press Stop The Highway Robbery supplement, asking them to come up with "constructive suggestions" and explaining the authority's financial difficulties.

One businessman complained that the letters felt intimidatory, although this was denied by the councillor.

Now a reader, Margaret Barker, has contacted the paper to say she had received a similar letter from the councillor after writing to the paper about charges. She said she had felt annoyed at first, feeling it was a "bit intrusive."

Updated: 09:27 Wednesday, August 04, 2004