Council — keep your hands off our free car parks

Take the latest council missive which states free car parks on the edge of town, such as the one behind the fire station, are “failing”, or “striving” with others being labelled “succeeding” or “excellent”.

How can a car park “fail”, “thrive” or even “succeed”?

Apparently the council has discovered that some drivers using these car parks have the temerity to actually work in the town. Well, why not – they pay Council Tax like the rest of us. Why should they pay high daily parking rates?

The council is now looking at whether these free car parks are fulfilling their potential and whether charges or waiting restrictions should be introduced or they should be sold off.

Let us get this straight – the council wants to make even more money from motorists already under the cosh from parking attendants zipping about on scooters to catch unlucky drivers who overstay by just a few minutes.

Why do councillors not understand that parking is one of the biggest issues in Bolton? Do they not understand that people are sick and tired of paying ever increasing charges and then getting a ticket for having a wheel over a white line?

Shoppers are staying away from the town because of the over strict interpretation of parking regulations by many attendants.

Car parks on the outskirts of town should be for everyone – not just shoppers. Shoppers are not complaining that they cannot park because they are full of business users. Leave the free car parks alone and instead concentrate on making town centre car parking cheaper to attract more visitors instead of the opposite.