I agree with our MP, Hugh Bayley, about the rise in our council tax by 8.5 per cent (Evening Press, May 20).

Coun Steve Galloway disagrees with Mr Bayley's statement, but he should look to his own transport councillor Ann Reid.

She has already admitted that raising the cost of residents' parking scheme passes by 100 per cent, to £84 per permit and £1 per visitor, helped to keep the overall council tax rise down.

Without this extra revenue the council tax would have risen one per cent for all York residents.

That would have made the overall council tax rise 9.5 per cent, and it is likely that this would have been "capped" by the Government.

I feel most aggrieved that those of us who live in the residents' parking zones have saved the council this embarrassment. Why should the few effected residents save their necks?

My view is that the Liberal Democrats have not lived up to their pre-election promises and we need to remove them from office at the earliest opportunity.

Karen Molloy,

Buckingham Street,

Bishophill, York.

Updated: 11:58 Saturday, May 22, 2004