WITH reference to the letter from Angela Johns (Concerned By Parking Plans, News Shopper, May 28) about the Chatterton area parking charges, I have lived in a nearby road since 1995.

It has seen an increase in the number of residents with two cars, vans and even lorries which are regularly parked in the road.

However, during the day there was usually space to park for families with young children and for older people.

This became a nightmare when the college, with no warning to residents, closed its car park to most students from September last year.

Planning permission for a temporary parking area was initially, and foolishly, refused by the council, but after the residents made large numbers of complaints, the council agreed to a temporary car park in December.

This did not improve the situation as there was not enough parking at the college even then.

The proposed residents parking scheme would generally allow residents to park in their own road, which may not be guaranteed, but then it never was, and it would put an end to students filling the road for the whole day.

If some roads reject the scheme, the all-day parkers will then move on to the areas which want and need the scheme.

We should also bear in mind when building starts on the Blue Circle site, the whole area will be a nightmare for residents, as where else will the builders park?

I agree there is no need for the scheme to apply on Saturdays, simply on weekdays between noon and 2pm.

I have been in regular contact with councillors, who have been inundated with complaints, and they have tried to support us as best they can.

Let me say if you say no for your road, you will then suffer as much or more as we have over the past eight months.

BARBARA CASTLE

Address supplied