Parking bay plans: When will the penny drop about meters?

For the first time in years the income that is derived from parking fines, permits and from meters is set to net the council millions of pounds less than it has been used to pocketing.

What is the point of creating additional metered parking bays in the city centre when by the council's own admission existing car parks are generally under-utilised – many are frequently less than one-third full?

Is the fact that income from metered bays is also falling not a clear indication that there is a lack of demand? So why create hundreds more – unless the aim is simply a desperate attempt to recuperate revenue that has been lost by further limited free parking.

It is a combination of rising charges and the disruption being caused by ongoing tram works that is driving motorists out of the city centre – not a lack of parking places.

The same can be said of plans to charge gas guzzling owners more for parking permits. What possible business is it of the council's what vehicle someone chooses to drive?

Why should they be charged up to 360 to park outside their own doors when vehicles taking up the equivalent roadspace will pay a far lesser rate.

Owners of such vehicles already pay considerably more in road tax than those running more environmentally friendly models and it is not up to the council to be judgemental on the issue.

Many buy larger vehicles to meet family needs. On top of that many feel safer driving their children in them as by the nature of their design many models tend to be more robust.

Why should those who have every right to make a free choice be penalised on moral grounds by a second tier of government whose buses and lorries probably contribute more to polluting the atmosphere than so called Chelsea tractors?

Supermarket's sweep

EYEBROWS will be raised over plans by Sainsbury's to create a network of around a dozen metro stores in the city.

Although the company says it will encourage people to shop in local communities rather than travel further afield to large supermarkets, many traders will be concerned that the arrival of the newcomers might help put them out of business.

Besides, don't Sainsbury's operate large supermarkets themselves?