MADAM, I was dismayed to walk through Hereford for the first time in several years and see how deserted it is and how the retail shops are suffering from lack of foot-fall; I don't think Ross is as advanced in the deserted retail state as yet.

There will soon be only charity shops and traffic wardens if there is not a change of attitude to parking charges. I could not believe the zealous way the traffic wardens went about their 'slaying' a week or so back when Ross had closed the town for a street market; a good initiative for the traders and local retailers, there were of course very few places to park; so extra traffic wardens were shipped in for the 'kill'. I am sure that they collect enough to pay their wages but the message is clearly don't come to Ross. There is no park and ride so if we are to support the traders we have to come by car.

Most people give up after a few swinging parking penalties and go to the big towns where you are charged as you leave and pay a parking fee, not a penalty.

It is quite difficult to know exactly how long you are going to take when on a visit. I have an office in Ross where I spend, perhaps, five to ten hours a week; I never know how long I will be in the office each time, the phone is unpredictable and I get four or five nasty penalties a year. I accept that as a cost to doing my work but visitors are being given a clear message that we don't want them to stay.

Councillors must devise a system to charge people as they leave and do away with these pernicious sticky yellow tickets that tell people 'we don't want you staying here!'

David Price, Goodrich