Sir, I thought you might be interested to reprint my letter of 1997 on this subject. History repeats itself . . . Public consultation my foot!

There are now masses of parking spaces in the Norham Gardens area of Oxford because people do not like to pay for parking. Our councils seem to think that they can earn money by causing the maximum inconvenience to businesses and individuals. Could someone tell them that it doesn't work!

J. Blackburn, Oxford