Madam, It was heartening to read in the Telegraph that the Government (Eric Pickles) wants to encourage shoppers into Town Centres rather than forcing them to shop where it is easiest to park (Supermarkets). He said: "Stressed out drivers now have to run the gauntlet of unfair parking fines, soaring parking charges and a lack of parking spaces. These parking restrictions have hit small shops the hardest creating 'ghost town' high streets which can't compete with out-of-town supermarkets".

Last week, in a Association of Ross traders' survey, 33 out of 39 Ross shops and businesses (85%) voted for an increase in the 30 minute on street parking, most wanting one hour as it is easier to remember. Many shoppers have been caught out by over-zealous Parking Attendents and fined for being just a few minutes over the allotted time. 30 minutes is not enough, 45 minutes is difficult to calculate, one hour is about perfect which will allow shoppers to spend more if they can park near to their shop of choice.

So why is it that some of our local councillors: a) are resisting increasing on street parking times b) want to increase car park charges and c) have now successfully introduced no less than 17 Coach bays in two our town centre public car parks which has effectively wiped out 50 car park spaces?

It seems to me that whilst Herefordshire Council is greedily cashing in on pinging fines on vulnerable "30 minute shoppers" (many of whom shop elsewhere afterwards), our Town Council is sitting back ignoring local traders and local public opinion, all of which flies in the face of the current thinking by our coalition government.

Andrew Meek, Ross