ONE year since their emphatic victory in York, the Liberal Democrats now know what power is all about. The budget "black hole" made it tougher than they probably expected.

Steve Galloway is right to cite York Pride as one of his team's successes.

However, the Lib Dems made a major mistake with their parking price hikes. The claim that it was a coherent plan to discourage car use does not wash. It was a financial quick-fix which arbitrarily punished motorists and could yet damage York's retail economy.

Coun Galloway will have to work hard to regain the support lost by this blunder.

Updated: 09:53 Friday, April 30, 2004