IN THE Oxford Mail on October 17, you rightly reported that I had some sympathy with those drivers who, on arriving at Thornhill to go on annual holiday, find they can only park for 72 hours.

They then dump their cars in the surrounding residential areas, causing massive inconvenience to residents.

The charging policy that has been adopted, and which will not in the first year cover the costs of implementation, does not address this problem.

At Thornhill the restriction on how long people can park should be changed and the cost of parking for longer than 12 hours should reflect the convenience of being able to park and catch the excellent bus services to London and the airports.

Others, parking for less than 12 hours, should be charged the same as in the other park and rides around the city.

Some money from the charges would need to go towards enforcing parking restrictions in local residential areas to stop some drivers’ selfish behaviour.

However, decent people know that as local authorities are being squeezed by the coalition Government’s austerity measures, we should be doing everything we can to ensure that services for the young and the old living in our communities are funded.

LIZ BRIGHOUSE

County Councillor

Barton and Churchill

Leader of the Labour Group

Oxfordshire County Council