Sir, – Not everyone is against the parking charges in Northallerton. I can park there easily now, often outside the very shop or bank I want to visit. Even at Christmas. Even on market day. With the further benefit of not having to negotiate the many ticking-over cars that would block the traffic and hover, like vultures, waiting for a space to appear.

I can usually finish what I need to do within the 30 minutes allowed; if I know I can't, I pay the ludicrously small amount of 80p for a full hour. I know it's a ludicrously small sum because I visit Lincoln, Newcastle and York regularly and I know what they charge. Anything between £1.50 and £5.70 per hour, since you ask, with no free period at all. I haven't heard about their high streets declining. As for Bettys reporting a drop in trade - if you can afford to shop and/or eat there - it is not cheap although, I must stress, it is excellent value - then you can afford 80p. Their trading figures might have dropped but I honestly don't think the parking charges are to blame.

80p per hour? Be realistic, please. Shoppers being deterred? Isn’t being unable to park a deterrent? Before the parking charges, the inconvenience of being unable to park meant I rarely visited Northallerton's High Street, not even for 30 minutes.

Mind you, Tesco has been a no-go zone ever since, now that its car park is permanently crammed with 80p savers. So I shop in Sainsbury's instead - I'm sure they have no problem with the charges, either.

JOANNE ASTON

Over Silton, Thirsk.