I READ with utter incredulity Hilton Dawsons's proposal to impose congestion charges in Lancaster city centre.

To suggest that Lancaster is in anyway similar to London is at best fanciful and in reality ridiculous.

The damage that such a move could do to businesses in Lancaster is incalculable and the damage that would be done to the city council in terms of relationship with its voters even more so.

Sainsbury's may as well close their doors now, as I doubt whether many would want to incur charges in order to do their supermarket shopping. B&Q like-wise, because anyone to the north of the city will not seek it out for their DIY needs given the additional charge.

I pick out these two because both usually require people to have access to their own vehicles. Park and ride is hardly suitable for a month's shopping or a new lawn mower.

The impact on city centre shopping should also be considered. Also, are we to be charged in order to use the accident and emergency facilities at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary or for visiting sick friends and rela-tives there?

And what about the university? I, like many others, live to the north of the city but work just outside the centre on the south side. Is it suggested that I use the motorway to get to work, effectively adding 15 to 20 miles to my trip to work every morning?

To get from the north to the south of Lan-caster there is only one route and that is the main road through the centre. London is not like this as there are many alternative shop-ping venues around the proposed 'charge area'.

In effect, what we have here is not a congestion charge but a road toll proposal, and to think that such a charge is a solution to the traffic problems is nave. It will kill off what is already a struggling city business area.

We live in a car based society that has been forced to become increasingly reliant on personal transport.

What we need is an new infrastructure not another tax on our unavoidable day-to-day commitments. Enioy your time as MP Mr Dawson, as I doubt that ideas such as this will win many votes for another term in office.

David Lee

Church Park

Overton