From: Martin Wright, Otley

ALTHOUGH charging for parking cars at beauty spots is not desirable, surely it is incumbent upon critics to come up with alternatives? Local councils, particularly in northern cities, have been subject to large reductions in income over the past twelve years. It is particularly hypocritical of the Liberal Democrats, who, in coalition, started wholly unnecessary austerity, leading to all the problems the country faces, including the NHS, education etc and the current wave of public sector strikes. How else are councils to balance budgets if they do not take measures such as charging for parking?

Incidentally, Otley 2030 is inaccurate in saying that the Chevin is not accessible from Otley by public transport: the X84 bus passes on the A660 every half hour, where there is access to the Chevin. It does involve steep roads or paths, but they are perfectly useable by anyone who is reasonably active.