Bob Critchley defends the indefensible by arguing the need for keyworkers to have access to their cars during the working day (Free parking is a necessity, not a perk, February 16).

Surrounding the council offices there are about 300 car parking spaces in the council grounds.

Does the council have more than 200 people who need to use cars during the working day (allowing 100 spaces for our precious councillors and overpaid executives to park for free)?

My observation is that only a small number of cars move from their spaces during the working day. This means there are a number of cars parked for the use of commuters and not, as claimed by Mr Critchley, for official purposes.

However, there are about 6,000 council staff working in the town centre, many of whom do not require the use of their cars except for travel between home and work.

These staff, we are told, are allowed free parking in Spring Gardens car park.

Surely it is preferable for council staff to pay for their commuting costs rather than traumatise a pensioner by threatening them with imprisonment for non payment of the council tax.

This scenario is likely in the next few months if we do not have some method of reducing the costs to the public.

Let the council staff pay for their travel costs just as any other town centre worker has to pay for their parking charges.

FREDERICK MORLEY

Blunsdon St Andrew