I AM writing with regard to your recent campaign to stop any increase to council parking charges within Bolton.

I strongly feel that your campaign stirs up unnecessary resentment towards a service that has received a constant bombardment of criticism from the Bolton Evening News.

It is a simple fact of life that it is necessary for parking charges to increase, to ensure that the council maintains the high standards that presently exist. All council car parking is covered by CCTV and is regularly patrolled, the car parks are properly lined out and litter free. Rates and running costs increase on an annual basis at least in line with inflation and this has to be eventually reflected in tariff increases.

The three multi-storey car parks in Bolton have all been refurbished to a high level by APCOA Parking (who manage the council car parks), and two of the car parks have been awarded the National Secure Car Park awards. They all offer modern Pay on Foot systems and Bow Street has a Ladies Only Floor and a valeting service.

If it were not for these constantly improving standards, Bolton would be awash with rundown, unsightly and crime-ridden car parks, which certainly would deter shoppers from using the centre. If there were never any tariff increases and costs continued to rise, it is safe to say that there would certainly be no improvements to parking and there would quite possibly be no measures to maintain the present standards.

In addition to this, the argument that parking charges deter shoppers is a misnomer and it has only gained credence from the public through the Bolton Evening News reporting it on such a regular basis. If parking charges did deter shoppers from town centres, then Manchester city centre would be a ghost town.

In July 1997, the House of Commons Select Committee on the Environment reported on shopping centres to help the Government to develop its policies to enhance the vitality and viability of town centres. The select committee accepted evidence that the quality of shops and parking provision is much more important than parking cost.

There is a simple choice to be made. Either accept tariffs need to occasionally increase to ensure Bolton has a first class parking service and further public or private investment, or freeze all parking charges and see parking standards fall.

If the Bolton Evening News really does want to do something constructive about footfall issues within the town centre, then they should stop writing emotive reports on parking simply to sell more papers and start reporting on the real issues, which are increased competition and choice.

Gareth Hughes

Regional Manager

APCOA Parking UK Ltd

Bradshawgate, Bolton

I AM writing with regard to your recent campaign to stop any increase to council parking charges within Bolton. I strongly feel that your campaign stirs up unnecessary resentment towards a service that has received a constant bombardment of criticism from the Bolton Evening News.

It is a simple fact of life that it is necessary for parking charges to increase, to ensure that the council maintains the high standards that presently exist. All council car parking is covered by CCTV and is regularly patrolled, the car parks are properly lined out and litter free. Rates and running costs increase on an annual basis at least in line with inflation and this has to be eventually reflected in tariff increases.

The three multi-storey car parks in Bolton have all been refurbished to a high level by APCOA Parking (who manage the council car parks), and two of the car parks have been awarded the National Secure Car Park awards. They all offer modern Pay on Foot systems and Bow Street has a Ladies Only Floor and a valeting service.

If it were not for these constantly improving standards, Bolton would be awash with rundown, unsightly and crime-ridden car parks, which certainly would deter shoppers from using the centre. If there were never any tariff increases and costs continued to rise, it is safe to say that there would certainly be no improvements to parking and there would quite possibly be no measures to maintain the present standards.

In addition to this, the argument that parking charges deter shoppers is a misnomer and it has only gained credence from the public through the Bolton Evening News reporting it on such a regular basis. If parking charges did deter shoppers from town centres, then Manchester city centre would be a ghost town.

In July 1997, the House of Commons Select Committee on the Environment reported on shopping centres to help the Government to develop its policies to enhance the vitality and viability of town centres. The select committee accepted evidence that the quality of shops and parking provision is much more important than parking cost.

There is a simple choice to be made. Either accept tariffs need to occasionally increase to ensure Bolton has a first class parking service and further public or private investment, or freeze all parking charges and see parking standards fall.

If the Bolton Evening News really does want to do something constructive about footfall issues within the town centre, then they should stop writing emotive reports on parking simply to sell more papers and start reporting on the real issues, which are increased competition and choice.