AS a car owner who has never used council car parks I can, hand on heart, say I will not be personally affected whichever way the decision goes over parking charges.

My concern is the amateurish way the justification for proposed parking charges is presented.

Has anyone actually examined the costs of maintaining the car parks and compared that with the costs of ticket machines and the costs of enforcement?

I ask this because of the stupid argument presented by Cllr Robinson that non car-owning ratepayers are subsidising those with cars. Having no children and not using buses I am subsidising ratepayers who have children and use buses. Since when has that argument been accepted by any council?

I note that Cllr Robinson is concerned with council efficiencies. May I suggest that he puts the minor proposal of car parking charges aside until the more urgent and hugely costly matters are examined and solved.

The last council looked into the collection and disposal of household waste and wasted our money conducting a survey of ratepayers and then took no action.

I understand the complexities of the various subjects and perhaps using the word amateurish hurts, but if councillors do not have the knowledge and abilities to take on these subjects then please have the good grace to admit it and get some expert advice.

– John Timbrell, Drybrook.