Sir, – How can the decision makers at County Hall maintain a “review after six months” policy when they must observe the day-by-day rapidly dying economy of Northallerton High Street? It is completely irresponsible to stick to principles when the blatant facts speak for themselves as a matter of great urgency.

Another Saturday morning at 10.30am – many of the parking bays near the Methodist Church and opposite by the White Horse fish shop are empty. Who can remember that happening in previous years on a fine Saturday morning in July, with the market also assembled for their hoped-for customers?

We all have choices about where we shop. The new parking regime may not look much of a deterrent to the policy makers, but the dire evidence after several weeks speaks for itself.

For goodness sake surprise us all by abandoning the payment scheme immediately, before the damage is irreparable.

It’s been done before – remember the disastrous fiasco of the new traffic lights at Leeming Bar? Even the cleverest professionals don’t always get it right, but hopefully they then have the courage to do something about it.

ROBIN COOK Swainby, Northallerton.