Re: Rot sets in at Town Centre, Letters Page May 10. JOHN Phillips refers to my comments apparently made during an impromptu conversation we had in November 2003.

I do not recall the conversation but I am sure John's memory is more reliable than mine.

Suffice it to say that I would never defend unreasonable car parking price hikes and I can only assume he took my comments out of context. John's remarks are particularly poignant given the recent rises imposed on our long-suffering motorists and shoppers as part of the council's annual review of parking rates. One tariff increased by more than 30 per cent. Swindon town centre's vitality is crucial to the improvement of the quality of shopping in the town centre and such actions will not encourage visitors or investors if shoppers can park in competing towns with much lower parking costs.

N Beaumont-Jones,

Brunel Centre manager, Swindon