SIR -- Parking in Oxford is forcing everyone to stay away.

I am a keen supporter of our city's performing arts and for the last three years, have tried to attend performances at the Playhouse in Beaumont Street at least once a month.

The Playhouse needs all the support it can get to remain viable and is working hard to pull in wider audiences.

My company is sub-contracted to provide a crche service at The Playhouse during the 'panto season' to allow families with babies to enjoy the performance with their older children. Costly baby sitting would be the only alternative.

Twice in November I had to miss 30 or 40 minutes of the performance because no parking could be found.

There was plenty of available parking but all 'permit holder only' or 'disabled'.

Don't get me wrong, I fully appreciate the need for residents' spaces to be honoured and parking for the disabled to be available, but clearly there are too many spaces held back for them.

I refuse to pay to go to the Playhouse and miss half the show. Leave home earlier, I am sure you will say. My work and childcare commitments do not allow me that luxury. One Sunday recently, I took my daughter and her friend to the cinema in Magdalen Street. We drove around for 20 minutes looking for a space to park. We eventually found one in St John Street, opposite the Playhouse. We cheered and the two children were relieved that we would miss only the trailers of other movies, not the feature.

I went to pay my fee, only to find that the meter allowed me only a two-hour stay. This is 'theatre land'. How crazy to have a two-hour limit in this area.

There are few shows that allow you to park, make your way to the theatre or cinema, see the show and make you way back to your vehicle, all in two hours.

We ran all the way to the cinema and back, and yes, I had received a penalty ticket. I was 10 minutes over my ticket time. On Sundays, most other councils offer free parking or reduced fees, but not Oxford. I hope councillors are proud of themselves. They are doing a superb job driving everyone out of Oxford.

DAWN FARRELL

Bertie Road

Cumnor

Oxford