AS A regular visitor and supplier of goods to traders in the town, I wish to register my dissatisfaction in the strongest terms regarding the parking proposals in Cirencester town centre.

One of the aims of this ill-thought-out exercise is apparently to ease congestion, which it plainly would not do. Indeed, by opening up Castle Street to allow paid parking, congestion would be far worse, as there would then be a shortage of places for loading/unloading to the adjacent shops and business premises.

The other areas mentioned are used for parking already, so there would be minimal difference in this respect.

These proposals are also likely to have a detrimental effect on local businesses, as it makes it more expensive to visit and shop in the town. If the intention is for more people to use the existing car parks, then the answer is simple. Lower the charges or abandon them altogether. That will have the desired result and encourage more people to visit the town in the process.

Furthermore, anyone who considers that the proposed changes in their present form do not appear high should be reminded that once the principle of charging has been established, charges inevitably escalate later. For example, a resident’s permit has doubled from £40 to £80 in three years and the Brewery Car Park has recently been extended to 24 hours charging.

I urge everyone who feels strongly about these proposals to write in with their objections before the 14-day deadline.

M J SANDERS

Ashton Keynes