THE parking around Sidcup High Street has been greatly reduced since the new superstore opened.

The council has seen fit to reduce the number of one and two-hour bays in Hadlow Road and Hatherley Road, thus making it difficult for customers who wish to shop or bank in the High Street, especially the less able who find it difficult to walk long distances.

The free bays have been very much reduced and are now residents’ bays. These are from 9am to 5.30pm, when most residents are at work, which explains why 75 per cent are always empty in Haldow, Granville, Highview and St Johns roads.

Also, most residents have their own garages and drives.

I work in Sidcup High Street and need parking for approximately four-and-a-half hours to enable me to park and walk to work and back again.

The revamped council car park has parking for up to four hours for 80p and then £2 for up to 24 hours. I am not prepared to pay that for half an hour. Why not five hours for £1?

Let’s restore short-term and at least some free parking and give staff a chance to serve the customers who want to shop in the High Street.

At present it seems the council is only interested in destroying Sidcup High Street.

E S Brockies Ladds Way Swanley