Thank you for covering some of the issues that I raised in relation to Kennet Council's proposal to charge for parking in Devizes Market Place (Gazette, October 21). There are further considerations:

It would be an unjustified waste of money to alter the system of one hour's free parking so recently put in place. The proposal is being made by the budget reduction sub-committee purely as a financial excuse.

The motorist already pays sufficient to cover the cost of parking services. The clutter of signs and machines and the threat to vulnerable businesses will be detrimental to the Market Place, and this is being ignored by the sub-committee.

Was there no opposition to the proposal from Devizes councillors on the sub-committee?

I write as a Kennet councillor, not as Mayor, because Devizes Town Council has not been consulted and this is another criticism of the way Kennet Council is handling the issue.

Coun M Taylor

Kennet District Council