I quite understand if people want to hang on to a financial benefit, but I am surprised people think Devizes' and Marlborough's main attraction is cheap or free parking.

So long as there is a level playing field across Wiltshire on parking charges, we have more to gain than to fear.

Since we have taken free or cheap parking for granted for so long, it comes as something of a shock to find that parking space is a drain on community funds.

We forget that every time a motorist demands a parking space there is a cost to the community: land value, amenity or management. So it is only fair that this cost is passed on to the motorist.

However, the Gazette's sensationalist reporting and 'hammering the motorist' tone merely polarises opinion and focuses too narrowly on a campaign for car-based access to Devizes and Marlborough.

The Gazette's report reveals that these parking charges are to encourage greater use of existing public transport by commuters, but it fails to include a proper assessment of whether the bus options to commute to the town centres are realistic for many, some or only a few.

This omission reinforces the false assumption that buses, cycling and walking do not, and will not, play a particularly important part in the economic and social lives of our rural communities.

Ask a bus user and they'll tell you that is complete nonsense.

But they'll also tell you in what way things need to change.

The newly-formed Association of Kennet Passengers is there to give a voice to users so that we can hear what it is like to use public transport in and around Kennet or get to our railway stations.

Kennet Passengers would like to hear from all those who use passenger transport, or whose employees or customers use buses, or who represent passengers in some way.

We would also like to hear from those who would like to use public transport but for one reason or another don't.

You can write to the address below or ring our message line on (01380) 723073 and tell us what you think.

You can also come along to our open forum on October 30 at 6pm at the Cheese Hall, Devizes. We will then report our findings.

Together we can encourage other choices to tempt us out of cars at least for some of the time.

Kate Freeman

Association of Kennet Passengers