Cornwall Council has gone out to consultation on the future of parking charges across the county to gain views on the proposals put forward for the charging structure for 2010-11. It is, in my opinion, absolutely vital to consider the economy of our smaller market and coastal towns if they are to survive as living communities. Too often people are put off going into these towns because of high parking charges which come from outdated thinking and old-fashioned policies.

This can only be of benefit to the large out-of-town stores who have no allegiance to the local economy and whose profits are not recycled locally. In Liskeard, there are two greengrocers, two butchers, an independent bookshop, a good quality clothes shop and a local ironmonger to name but a few. The lower parking charges have encouraged shoppers to come in and support these businesses to the benefit of the whole community.

There are other towns in South East Cornwall which have also benefited similarly.

The longer term aspiration of standardising charges within Cornwall's car parks is admirable but the consultation also includes a proposal to discontinue the residents' parking schemes which applied to people living in the old Caradon and Restormel districts.

This has been a great success and much welcomed by local residents but it is argued that the rest of Cornwall is subsidising the schemes.

Is it really sensible to do away with something that the electorate has welcomed rather than considering how it might be extended across the whole of Cornwall to the benefit of everyone who lives in the county?

I would argue that what is needed is to give all Cornish residents, who incidentally use the towns both summer and winter, some incentive to stimulate our local businesses. New ideas must take account of best practice and I see no sign of that within the proposals being put forward by the new council in this consultation.

I do not encourage the use of private cars in favour of public transport but in many rural areas the use of a car is vital. I do hope that as many people as possible respond to the survey – so that a clear message can be identified as to what the Cornish populations want – and do not just sit back and allow exorbitant charges to be imposed upon them.

Cllr John Turner

St Ive Ward

Cornwall Council