HAVING read the letters regarding car parking in Redditch in recent weeks, I write to support the view the increase in charges by Thornfields is extortionate and will be detrimental to the town as a whole.

As I see it, this will affect not only shops and the general public but also businesses.

To those of us who work in the town centre, that is outside the Kingfisher Centre itself, the increase in the concessionary charges from £2.50 to £4 per day is an increase of 60 per cent.

To have to pay £20 a week to work in the near vicinity of the town centre is totally unreasonable.

As far as the increase in charges for shoppers to park in Redditch to £10 per day is concerned, particularly in advance of the main new shops being completed, I cannot see how this can do other than drive shoppers away to more attractive shopping centres which are cheaper or free.

Also, potential employees of the new shops who will want to park in the town will certainly think twice about the viability of working in Redditch.

I would also have thought the owners of the new shops like Debenhams and Wilkinsons would have been concerned about the potential knock-on effect on their businesses.

I have always supported the view Car Park 7 in Church Road should be used as a car park for town centre workers at a reasonable concessionary rate because it is in a convenient position and is very little used.

I have never been able to understand why it was allowed to deteriorate and not be upgraded, particularly when parking space in Redditch has been reduced.

How can the town grow without sufficient car parking facilities with reasonable charges?

J Mogg

Greenlands