Sir, - I was interested to read Susan Latter's letter (D&S, Apr 25); one of the first, I believe, in support of Hambleton District Council's parking charges proposals.

Could she be related to the Coun Susan Latter who, I seem to recall, was one of the few, the very few, to back the council's case at the public inquiry into the same topic in the early 1990s? If so she might remember the outcome of that inquiry and the independent inspector's findings that the imposition of parking charges would damage the economies of the market towns (then Thirsk and Northallerton only) affected by them.

If former Coun Latter wants the Opposition's line on the matter of parking in market towns, it's helpfully set out for her in last Friday's Yorkshire Post. I quote from Alan Duncan (Shadow Minister for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform): "If you stop people parking in town you kill the High Street - it's that simple. Labour's aggressive anti-car policies are forcing people out of town to park for free at supermarkets."

Spot on Alan! I don't think any opponent of the proposals could have put it better; just substitute "Hambleton District Council" for "Labour" and you've got it. How come most people in Bedale, Northallerton, Stokesley and Thirsk can see this but not the Hambleton Cabinet (and ex-Coun Latter)?

Maybe if Hambleton councillors had embarked less on infantile political grandstanding they would not now be seeking to impose a discriminatory stealth tax on the towns of Bedale, Northallerton, Stokesley and, particularly, Thirsk (which suffers the misfortune of having the most parking spaces controlled by Hambleton).

Here's an offer Mrs Latter: I'll support you on the charges when they apply equitably across the district's supermarket car parks and at Stone Cross.

Until then please listen to Mr Duncan and stop undermining the viability of our town centres.

MICHAEL ARMSTRONG The Crescent, Thirsk