Sir, - As pressure mounts on Hambleton district councillors to vote against the car parking charges, I am certain that there is not one who would not prefer to be able to do so. However, they would be wrong.

Their primary responsibility is to balance the books whilst maintaining high quality services within the straitjacket set by central Government.

Blame should be placed firmly where it belongs, on Tony Blair's unreasonable and vindictive decision in 2005 to cap the budget of the third lowest taxing district in the country.

Hambleton District Council had a ten-year strategy of increasing council tax gradually to nearer the national average as its reserves reduced. This strategy had been approved by the Audit Commission and had the council been allowed to pursue it, the 2008/9 working budget would have been £1m higher and there would have been no need for the £450,000 income from charges. Moreover, residents would still have enjoyed the lowest council tax in North Yorkshire.

Meanwhile, the only alternative I can see is to dramatically cut the leisure budget which would impact directly upon all members of society but particularly on the young.

Councillors should stand firm.

SUSAN LATTER Scruton, Northallerton.