I am writing to bring to your attention the appalling treatment Ledbury traffic wardens and Herefordshire Council offer to people visiting Ledbury.

I live in Malvern and was parked in the Lawnside Road Car Park supporting a local business at Ledbury at the community hall.

Unfortunately, the meeting overran by 10 minutes. I was walking back to my car to see a traffic warden issuing a ticket.

I wrote to the council immediately to describe the incident and 12 days later I have received a letter stating that I still have to pay the fine.

There has been a total disregard for any of my comments. The council said my complaint had been referred to Mr Mick Morris but when I rang this gentleman he had no record of it.

I then asked to be put through to the parking enforcement officer, who told me that unless I provide evidence that my meeting was for less than an hour, they would not reconsider the case.

As a result of this experience, I have decided not to continue supporting the local business. I have also talked to friends and family and discovered that I am not the only person to be treated in such an aggressive manner and to have been issued with a ticket so totally disproportionate to the misdemeanour.

Surely the council should be working on ways to support local businesses and encourage visitors to market towns rather than causing ill feeling for visitors to the area.

I am a local person and will not be visiting Ledbury for a long time to come.

If this has happened to tourists who might have otherwise revisited the town, what will be the impact on the locals. How will small businesses be able to keep running if their customers refuse to return?

I am sympathetic to the fact that there has to be rules and regulations but, in my experience, a certain amount of discretion pays far better dividends than the 'jobs worth' dictator.

As the director of a small business myself, I am glad I live on this side of the hills.

Amanda Linington, Hooper's Paddock, Castlemorton Common.