How interesting that Eric Pickles MP and Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for Chippenham Michelle Dolelan are both campaigning for the cost of car parking to be reduced within Wiltshire.

I would very much agree that it’s high time to bring back one hour’s free parking, and reduce the charge for longer parking. But has she forgotten that it was her Conservative-controlled council that increased these charges in the first place?

We as councillors were told that money from car parking would be ploughed back into supporting local bus services across the county, yet we are seeing council-supported bus services within the county cut nearly on a daily basis.

Only this week I understand that Wiltshire Council is looking to axe services in the Pewsey Vale area by 25 per cent. And in my own council ward the local Zig Zag service has been cut so badly that many have just stopped using it as there are no return buses.

If Eric Pickles and Miss Dolelan are serious, why not support myself and fellow Independent Wiltshire Councillor Jeff Osborn in putting pressure on the government to consider a supermarket levy on out-of- town stores? This money could be ploughed back into our town centres in a bid to reduce the cost of parking. It works in Northern Ireland so why not here, and in Wales it is being considered.

Before Christmas I received a questionnaire from Miss Dolelan, so I decided I would seek her views on the Wiltshire Council expenses scandal, as she seemed so keen to fight for the rights of the ratepayers of Chippenham and Wiltshire.

I felt sure that she would support local residents in opposing eye- watering increases in allowances of 37 per cent for the leader of Wiltshire Council and her cabinet.

But having sent her a further two emails I’m still waiting for her reply. I would also point out that James Grey MP and Claire Perry MP have both failed to reply over the expenses scandal.

I wish Miss Dolelan luck with her campaign to reduce car parking charges, but I fear that this is little more that a headline grabbing opportunity.

Coun Terry Chivers, Independent, Melksham Without North.