ONCE again this council is to impose a further "stealth tax" on residents and visitors to Bolton by increasing the parking charges on their car parks.

It doesn't seem long ago when the self same council agreed that something needed to be done with these charges in an attempt to attract more shoppers into the town.

As a result of this, the Bolton Evening News advised, in September 2002, that the rate for a parking period of between 3-4 hours was to be reduced. What they failed to point out was that, on at least some of the Bolton council car parks, the rate for 2-3 hours was, in fact, increased. In the case of the Bath Street car park, the rate for that period was increased from £1.80 to £2 -- an increase of 11 per cent, and only a few months ago.

What with bus lanes, speed humps and increased parking charges, one would think that the council did not want motorists in Bolton. Surely it would be simpler if the council erected barriers on all roads leading into the town to keep motorists out altogether.

Allen Blackeley

Winsford Grove

Bolton