GLADYS Turner raises several issues in her letter on parking in Helmsley (November 1).

I think disabled badge holders should be allowed some free time in the Market Place car park to allow them to do essential shopping, but for longer periods they should have to pay the fee like everyone else. Having said that, most illegal parking on the yellow lines outside the Natwest Bank and the Feathers Hotel takes place on a Friday, when the market takes up most of the parking space anyway.

Ms Turner admits she parks outside the Feathers, but there is a legitimate bus stop there, used by buses travelling towards Thirsk, York or Malton. They can't use the bus stop on the other side of the road as it is already used by buses travelling in the opposite direction - you can't expect them all to travel in the same direction Ms Turner! Cars parked outside the Feathers force buses to stop behind them, dangerously close to the blind corner at the mini roundabout, or worse still, in front of them, close to the pedestrian crossing.

I normally visit Barclays Bank on Friday lunchtimes and almost always there are cars illegally parked outside the Feathers, invariably showing disabled badges. Often I see the occupants get out of their cars and go inside the hotel. There is a perfectly good car park at the rear of the Feathers for patrons so it is totally unnecessary for them to park on the yellow lines. I've noticed that the illegal parking has diminished since the traffic warden has been doing his job, which can only be a good thing.

To describe Mr Ogier as over-zealous is ludicrous. I wished him well the last time I saw him and said it was a pity he couldn't be here every day!

KEITH PICKERING

Helmsley

Updated: 11:11 Thursday, November 15, 2001