I had an appointment with a hairdresser in Brighton to get my four-year-old son's hair cut before he returned to school.

My husband works away but has had had some extra leave so was able to take us in our car.

We parked at our usual parking point opposite the Level on Ditchling Road and I left the car to buy a 50p parking voucher as we had run out.

The very nice lady in Hunters asked me if I was aware of the new parking charges.

I suspect she has had to tell quite a few people about it in the past few days.

The charge has now gone from an acceptable 50p per hour to a daylight robbery charge of £1.50 per hour and vouchers are only sold on an hourly basis, so whether it is for five or 55 minutes you get charged the same.

Can the 200 per cent increase be justified?

Is it to cover the cost of the person telling you when you ring to complain that if you don't like it to walk or get the bus?

I really would love to walk but as a person with mild cerebal palsy and a four-year-old in tow this is not an option.

As I am not disabled enough to receive mobility allowance I have to depend on buses or my husband the rare times he is home.

I feel very sorry for all the traders this will affect as, judging from the number of empty parking bays, people will now shop elsewhere.

-Shirley Connor, Brighton