I WAS interested to read Tim Ridgway’s article on “mad” parking as I have had an exchange of correspondence with Green councillors on this issue (The Argus, April 4).

I was particularly concerned about the effect of the increases in parking charges on small businesses. I also took issue with councillors regarding the inflationary increase in council housing rents.

Councillor Jason Kitcat responded that the average increase in parking charges around Brighton and Hove was 5%, and that Brighton and Hove City Council was bound by central Government with regard to the rents that were set.

My response to Coun Kitcat went as follows: “Inflation for the year to date is running at 3.7%; the increase in parking charges for, say, Baker Street in the already stricken London Road shopping area [of Brighton] have gone up by 106%.

“A shopper wishing to pop in for a bag of chips or a bag of dog food, or even a half of bitter, now has to find another £3.50. If this does not drive shoppers into the supermarkets with free parking, I know not what. I understand that Brighton and Hove is second only to Birmingham (London excluded) in parking revenues – is this move to bring our so-called city above those pesky Midlands upstarts?

“As for the rent issue, 7.2% is again about twice the rate of inflation. I understand there is a secondary agenda on the part of central Government; to bring council housing rents into line with Housing Association rents, but I would have thought local government should be more vigorous in exposing what is not a true like-for-like comparison.”

I can understand Greens might be against the motorist, but small traders need all the help they can get, as do pensioners (such as myself) on fixed incomes.

Barry Hughes, Bromley Road, Brighton

HOW can anyone justify £20 to park on Brighton and Hove seafront? Friends of mine who live out of the area think that Brighton is a joke and don’t want to visit any more.

I really feel sorry for the seaside traders and local shop owners who rely on visitors. I believe this is another nail in their coffin.

The council says it wants people to use other forms of transport. What they will do is use their cars but go elsewhere, where there is reasonable parking with lower costs.

If you’re a family coming to the city for the day, you probably bring things with you like toys, drinks, snacks, possibly something to sit on – this wouldn’t fit on the back of a bike.

If you get a train or bus you still have to lug everything around, which isn’t great if you have small children or elderly relatives with you.

And if visitors do come to town and decide not to pay their ice cream money on parking, perhaps electing to go to the park instead... oh, what a surprise – you now have to pay to park there as well.

Visitors may come here once and put up with it, but I wonder how many will make a second visit?

You only have to look at all the shops that are either closing down or boarded up to see what could happen in the long-run.

I think this council has to get real and encourage local businesses to thrive, rather than give them another slap in the face.

There will be readers who will disagree with me and say we have too many cars on the road. I agree, but you will never stop this – it has become part of our lives; just look at the recent petrol panic.

By hiking up parking prices in this way, the city will stop the local economy thriving.

Debbie Knowles, Heston Avenue, Brighton