I MUST respond to the letter written by John Robson (September 9) arguing that continued complaints about the parking charges are "boring and trivial".

In relation to world events, York's parking charges do appear insignificant.

However, to a business person in the city centre such as myself, the parking charges are having a seriously damaging affect on our trade.

As a self-employed person this is my livelihood, and it's anything but trivial when you see your turnover cut in half overnight.

People would like Government, central or local, to start admitting their mistakes and do something about them - something which is of benefit to voters.

Terrorists, on the other hand, exist for a reason. These are desperate people willing to commit desperate acts, and why? Because, as we in this country often say: "no one is listening".

We in the West are hypocritical in the way we treat our fellow human beings, and while we continue to try and impose our terribly corrupt democracies on others and continue to support "legitimate" terrorism ourselves, we will continue to create much antagonism in the world.

Until we decided to talk to the IRA, for instance, there wasn't a cat-in-hell's chance of stopping the terrorism. Look at Northern Ireland now, a lot of hard work and reconciliation lies ahead but not hearing of something from there on the news day in, day out is extremely encouraging.

Hounding down terrorists all over the world is a policy of sheer lunacy and will create immense instability everywhere.

Steve Clements,

The Legalise Cannabis Alliance,

Church Street, York.

Updated: 10:49 Saturday, September 11, 2004