IT WOULD seem the Brighton and Hove parking department has sunk to a new low.

I parked my car in West Hill Road last Sunday, paid the £3 parking fee for two hours, only to find later the charge had been raised to £3.10.

The one-hour charge remains the same at £1.50 and so, after putting in the first coin (£2), when it showed an hour parking, I assumed that with the further £1 paid this would be enough for two hours.

I did notice the ticket showed only one hour so I left a note explaining that the machine seemed to be wrongly calibrated and presumed it was due to it recently having been repaired.

I wear glasses and so the small figures used to show the actual charge were not easily readable when I looked and checked.

I am sure, somewhere along the line, the council must have mentioned this to someone but could we not have larger notices to show increased charges?

I now have a parking fine to pay for the sake of an honest mistake over a 10p charge.

As a working minister in a church – which has been in the area for more than 180 years – I am not entitled to a residents’ permit.

Instead I have to drive some members to the church, because of age or health reasons, drop them off and hunt for a parking space.

The cost of parking for the year, assuming I am willing to walk in from some distance away, would be at least £1,000 a year, double that if I parked nearer, assuming I could find a parking space.

A R Bickley
Sadler Way, Brighton