HAVING just returned from a week’s holiday in Northumberland, it was noticeable that every car park in the county is free, whether short stay, two hours, long stay or all day, there is no charge. One only needs to display a time card on the dashboard stating the time you parked so that you don’t abuse the short stay parking. 
The effect of free parking is that all the towns are busy and private shops are getting equal chance to attract customers against the free parking at out of town shopping malls. 
When will our councils wake up to the advantages of free parking in every town to avoid the slow death in our town centres?

Tim Blandford 
Chepstow