REGARDING your article on Wednesday, November 21, page 5 -- Bolton Council's policy on car parking.

Bolton Council in this report admit that one of Bolton's biggest problems is the lack of parking facilities -- being that the spaces available are utilised and charging is a form of rationing. If a person "nips" into town and spends a fiver, is that better than a person who wants to spend time and money but risks (a) not finding a space or (b) risks being penalised by the traffic wardens?

I do feel that the Council's policy is to make things difficult for the motorist, to collect the penalty tickets which go into the Council's coffers. Motorists should be encouraged to come into town, by offering adequate and cheap parking. Shopping trends have changed, with other cities, towns and shopping centres offering more, ie a tourist attraction, or to be able to offer a full day out.

When I first came to Bolton, Newport Street was a thriving area. Now it looks like a "ghost town", and Sunday in the town is like the "Marie Celeste". I work in a department store and am unhappy, as with many others, about the decline in trade, and we are fearful for our own jobs. A saving of £50,000 seems a lot of money, but, in the overall scheme of things with job losses rising, it is not such a healthy option. Do we want a situation of having plenty of car parking facilities, but no shops to visit?

Vivienne Thornber

Seymour Drive

Bradshaw, Bolton