I RECEIVED a parking ticket which was unwarranted and issued without any consideration. I had been to two car parks, which were full. I then found a space at Lord Mayors Walk and attempted to put money into both the pay and display machines available. One did not work at all, and the other was not accepting anything over £1.

I explained all this on a note which I put in the car window, with my time on. I returned to the car within two hours, and was appalled to see this penalty notice.

It is outrageous that faulty pay and display machines (wholly the responsibility of City of York Council) lead to car parking tickets for honest York residents who support the city centre shopping facilities and services. It is important that an inspection is undertaken of the ticket machines in Lord Mayors Walk and that innocent people are not penalised for others, errors and incompetence. Do the council want to stop parking around York city centre, while not providing any suitable alternative means of access?

I consider this penalty notice unfair and the responsibility of the Parking Office to ensure adequate operational machines are available. To profit from the failure of a machine is totally unacceptable and perverse in the extreme.

Anthea Green,

Westfield Close,

Wigginton,

York.

Updated: 10:32 Monday, March 26, 2001