Sir, - Although just about everything has already been said in your paper opposing the hugely unpopular car parking charges scheme, there are two points I would like to emphasise.

Firstly, the district council's proposed reliance on car parking charges to offset a predicted budget shortfall is contrary to Government policy.

Rosie Winterton MP, Minister for Transport, confirmed on ITV1's Parking Wars programme on March 28 that local authorities should not use parking charges to raise revenue.

No doubt the Government should be asked to find the means for overcoming the financial predicament the council claims is the former's fault.

But relying on parking charge surpluses to support the annual budget requirement inevitably demands excessive parking charge increases entirely unrelated to parking management needs.

Such increases bear even harder on the surrounding cardependent rural population for whom buses, cycling or walking are not realistic options.

As a Thirsk area resident, my second point concerns the damaging effect of the proposed scheme on the town.

Easingwold escapes charges altogether, Northallerton has two-hour free parking in the High Street and at Tesco, Northallerton, but Thirsk Market Place car parks, which need to counter Tesco Thirsk's nearby much larger free and unlimited stay car park, are to be charged.

Great for Tesco but disastrous for the Market Place shops. Is this really what the district council intends?

The palliative 30 minutes' free parking suggested in the consultation, which astonishingly makes no mention at all of Tesco Thirsk's car park, is far too short, given post office queues and other unforeseen shopping delays, especially on market days.

The period should be the present two hours, if Thirsk Market Place is to retain its fragile viability.

Car park charges are being promoted for the wrong reason and, as far as Thirsk is concerned, the proposed scheme compromises the district council's fiduciary obligations to the community.

The district council should withdraw its present car park charging proposals forthwith and reconsider its budgeting position. It should give details of what the service cuts would be without parking income, so that people are fully aware of the choices. And the council should not come forward with another charging scheme until agreement on a uniform traffic and parking management strategy is reached with the county council and all other major car park providers, including Tesco We would then want to know what amenity improvements the council would provide.

DAVID SALTMARSH Moor Lane, Bagby, Thirsk.

Sir, - I wonder what Northallerton people think about their Hambleton councillors, who are currently voting for car parking charges? Charges can now only be introduced in half the towns of Hambleton and this Conservative stealth tax is even more unfair than it was planned to be.

It is time for the whole plan to be dropped.

Committees have already forwarded their recommendations for a charging structure. It is absolutely ridiculous that these costly meetings were held before the consultants, who are being paid £43,000, had even conducted their surveys.

The "free thinking" councillors that Hambleton have, rightly felt uncomfortable without the report's findings. It is interesting at these meetings to see who speaks and who does not: Northallerton's ward members, Coun Tony Hall and Coun David Blades, make public their support for charges.

Many Conservative members have not dared to even speak and say nothing at all.

Councillors are quick to show their support for Thirsk through subsidising the Herriot attraction.

They spent £130,409 last year and, sadly, no amount of money will alter the inevitable.

I would ask the people of Thirsk this: What is more important to your town's prosperity, free parking or propping up this failing business? What do the people of Bedale feel is their best attraction, Hambleton buying a private railway station for more than £500,000, or free parking?

Free parking is our attraction.

It will not go out of fashion with visitors and shoppers whose support keeps the character of our towns alive. For our rural residents, it makes up for the inadequate bus service.

It is up to us all: Make your views known to your councillors now, or get ready for charges with inflation every year. Find your councillor at www.hambleton.gov.uk.

MARCUS GROVER 216 High Street, Northallerton