ON my recent visits to Westhoughton town centre, I find it absolutely farcical that motorists continue to park their vehicles on double yellow lines in Market Street, despite the so-called recently adopted zero tolerance policy.

Almost everyone seems to have the attitude that they can park wherever and whenever they want (particularly in front of a cash machine or the local Late Shop).

Often cars park with their engines running and no driver while waiting their turn to use the cash machines. This still causes obstructions to buses and other road users.

This is in complete contrast to parking and car parks in central Bolton, where attendants hover at every turn hoping to impose a £30 fine on every vehicle owner who spends five minutes too long in the shops. Many of the residents of Westhoughton now believe that Market Street is a free car park, and would appear to be laughing in the face of the Highways Department.

If you try to point out that anyone is parking illegally a load of verbal abuse then ensues.

When will the Local Authority stop pussy-footing around and deal with this serious problem? Perhaps only when a serious accident occurs!

In Atherton town centre the main street is for public transport only, and this seems to work fine. Why not Westhoughton?

So I would ask our local councillors before we vote in May, to actually make something happen, rather than just talking round the problem.

James Ainscough

Newbrook Road

Over Hulton