SIR – Shame on Bradford and Leeds councils – they sold our heritage (Leeds Bradford International Airport) to private enterprise, who now hold the ratepayers to ransom with drop-off parking charges.

Surely before any more planning applications are agreed, a reversion to free drop-off and pick-up should be arranged.

Parking charges began last year and we were told it brought us in line with Manchester and Heathrow – not true! I can still deliver and collect family and friends from both, for free, at all terminals.

As it stands, there is nothing to stop airport authorities charging what they want.

A £2 charge for private vehicles will not last long – the throughput at the airport will decline, the budget airlines will withdraw and we will all revert to crossing the Pennines in search of cheaper holidays.

Progress? The time for the authorities to act is now.

Dave Smith, Haworth Road, Bradford