May I congratulate our newly elected MP Ms Michelle Donelan on asking a question at PMQs on such a prestigious occasion as Budget Day in reference to the decline of the high streets in the Chippenham Constituency.

However, I was rather confused when she put the blame for this decline firmly in the lap of the last Labour government.

I would like to point out to Ms Donelan (a recent newcomer to the Constituency) that it is a long time, if ever, that there has been Labour-held council or MP in Wiltshire, and that the parking charges to which she referred were implemented by the first Conservative-led unitary council, which introduced parking charges despite massive protestations from interested parties struggling to support our high streets.

Whilst the Prime Minister may be supporting her in her efforts to reintroduce free parking in particular, it will be very interesting to see the reaction from Wiltshire Council which has been strongly opposed to returning free parking despite the efforts of our previous MP and many other supporters of our Wiltshire towns including local business.

Isabel Willis, Address supplied.