The Gazette editorial "Traders may pay price for gaffe" tells the sorry story of North Wiltshire District Council promoting but failing to organise the 'free' Christmas park and ride in Chippenham.

You describe it as a gaffe, but it has been a blunder from the very beginning.

I am sure the ratepayers and small shopkeepers of Cricklade, Purton, Wootton Bassett will be relived that this year they are not subsidising 'free' parking at £10 a car in a shopping area they are unlikely to use.

There are three solutions open to the district council:

l Charge cars £10 each and they will break even.

l Get the Chippenham High Street stores like Woolworths, Littlewoods, Dixons, Burtons and W H Smith to pick up the £10,000 bill for bring shoppers to them.

l Scrap the whole idea in future.

DEREK TILNEY

Parklands

Malmesbury