WITH regard to the recent news of the intended increase in Bolton council car parking charges, along with the furore and discontent this news generates.

I make the following observation, along with what I deem to be a fair suggestion of how to rectify the shortfall, ie £45,000 in the council coffers.

If I drove my car to my place of work on Monday morning and, upon arrival, was guaranteed a FREE, no hassle, parking space, security much better than most fringe-of-town car parks, unlimited stay which would probably be a minimum of seven hours, and be in the enviable position of the following four working days providing the same perk, this and every ensuing working week throughout the year, what collective type of employment would I be engaged in? Answer: The teaching profession.

Over the years, areas of school amenity space has been transformed to provide free parking for staff.

In a 39-week working year -- as most schools do -- the young lady hair stylist, recently highlighted, would have to pay many hundreds of pounds from an undoubtedly much lower salary for the privilege of going to work by car.

I don't think that the introduction of a levy for parking on school grounds -- which are after all maintained partly by council tax payers -- could be construed as penalising school staff, but more of an act of fair play for all daily working car parkers.

Given the number of both primary and secondary schools within the borough, a nominal levy would be both fair and constructive.

My question is -- could anyone challenge this idea as being unfair?

Mr G Schofield

Gargrave Avenue

Bolton