I notice Lewes District Council issued 15 free parking permits allowing fishermen to use the public pay-and-display short-term car park at West Quay, Newhaven (The Argus, June 29). This seems a good idea because the parking problems affect the livelihood of these fishermen.

However, Age Concern Newhaven Day Club has been allocated only five free parking spaces, in spite of having more than 90 members. If we hold a function at the club - such as the Golden Jubilee party, which went on for

more than three hours - any members unable to park in the free spaces would have to pay and would only be able to stay for three hours.

We have had meetings with the council about this problem but it is unable to help.

When we had our jubilee party, we were very fortunate because Mr Bickerstaff kindly allowed us to use his land to park on, which enabled members to park for more than three hours. We very much appreciated this gesture.

David Scott, from Newhaven Fish and Flake Ice, gives the council "full marks" for issuing the permits to the fishermen. My award to the council for its attitude to the day club's parking problems is zero marks.

As a member of the day club, this letter is my own opinion and I am not writing on behalf of the club.

-Mrs M Colwell, Meeching Rise, Newhaven