TO the Mayor, Aldermen and Burgesses of Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council -- GREETINGS.

I feel that I must write about the "warm welcome" on my recent visit to Horwich.

As the car parks were full, my car was left for four minutes in a quiet side street off Winter Hey Lane while I collected some shopping. I left the car where it would cause no obstruction or inconvenience, but it did obscure one of those pretty single yellow lines which have thoughtfully been provided to brighten up the town.

On my return to the car I found that I had been presented with one of the much sought-after and valued penalty charge notice parking tickets. The ticket was issued at 11.11am, which, by sheer coincidence, happened to be the time I left the car. The ticket stated that the car was left "from 11.11 to 11.11" -- a time span of zero.

Thus, in this zero time span the parking attendant has contrived to write out and issue the parking ticket and disappear -- no doubt to welcome some other visiting motorist to the town. The alacrity of the parking attendants in performing this remarkable feat is to be commended. "Get in quick before they have a chance to move the vehicle" must be the order of the day.

The shopkeepers of Horwich, I am sure, would wish to rain blessings from above upon the heads of Bolton Council, who by their far sighted action in co-ordination with the rapid response team of parking attendants working together to deter potential customers to the town, are affording these shopkeepers a golden opportunity for early retirement, as their businesses crumble around them.

Carry on the good work!

E Williamson

Salford TO the Mayor, Aldermen and Burgesses of Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council -- GREETINGS.

I FEEL that I must write about the "warm welcome" on my recent visit to Horwich.

As the car parks were full, my car was left for four minutes in a quiet side street off Winter Hey Lane while I collected some shopping. I left the car where it would cause no obstruction or inconvenience, but it did obscure one of those pretty single yellow lines which have thoughtfully been provided to brighten up the town.

On my return to the car I found that I had been presented with one of the much sought-after and valued penalty charge notice parking tickets. The ticket was issued at 11.11am, which, by sheer coincidence, happened to be the time I left the car. The ticket stated that the car was left "from 11.11 to 11.11" -- a time span of zero.

Thus, in this zero time span the parking attendant has contrived to write out and issue the parking ticket and disappear -- no doubt to welcome some other visiting motorist to the town. The alacrity of the parking attendants in performing this remarkable feat is to be commended. "Get in quick before they have a chance to move the vehicle" must be the order of the day.

The shopkeepers of Horwich, I am sure, would wish to rain blessings from above upon the heads of Bolton Council, who by their far-sighted action in co-ordination with the rapid response team of parking attendants working together to deter potential customers to the town, are affording these shopkeepers a golden opportunity for early retirement, as their businesses crumble around them.

Carry on the good work!

E Williamson

Salford