READERS of the various stories and letters that have appeared in Citizen over the past weeks could be for-given for believing the Green Party is single-handedly responsible for every Traffic problem in Lancaster.

Along with our Labour and Liberal colleagues in the coalition cabinet, we are supportive of the co-ordinated approach to traffic management being taken by the council - one that includes residents parking, travel plans for major employers, good quality public transport and safe walking and cycling routes.

But the simple fact is that the urban roads in central Lancaster are fast approaching capacity, as witnessed by increasing congestion and conflicts over parking.

These issues can only be dealt with on a district wide level, otherwise one person's parking solution just becomes the next street's parking nightmare.

It is 'renegade' Labour councillors, who are out of step with their own party both locally and nationally, who are undermining attempts to get to grips with the town's transport problems by calling for an exception to be made for St Martin's college.

Traffic problems cannot be addressed street by street. As different measures are put in place things may get temporarily worse in some places before they get better overall - but if we pursue ad hoc measures we shall all be losers as the city continues to grind to a halt.

Cllr Chris Coates, Green group leader, Lancaster City Council.