AS the latest main topic of conversation not only in your articles and letter columns, but also in the local community, seems to revolve around vehicles and the problems associated with them, I therefore thought the following letter from my cousin to Carrick district council might be of some general interest.

My cousin has been visiting this area for 30-plus years, at least once if not twice a year, very often with several members of his family and friends all staying in local hotels or cottages and dining most evenings in Falmouth restaurants, therefore over the years putting many thousands of pounds into the local economy.

He was very angry on returning to his vehicle, as the letter below shows, and also vents the feelings and resentment towards the authorities of the local community to again target the sitting ducks, cars, treating them as an open wallet.

"Dear Sir or Madam, We have just returned from a week's holiday in Falmouth and the surrounding districts. On the evening of October 5 we parked in the car park adjacent to the Maritime Museum and went for a meal. On returning to our car we were shocked to see a parking ticket had been applied at 20.32 hours

"This is in an empty car park, off season in the evening! I realised after that I could have parked in the road without penalty. I have paid the fine. However, I have to register my astonishment that a town striving for all the business it can get (we are regular visitors, so we know the need) fines visitors for parking in a car park off-season, in the evening. How do you expect to attract visitors? Next time we will spend our money out of town or park in the road."

A good example of the futility of the parking situation was enacted by my wife last week.

Driving into Penryn to collect a prescription from the chemists she attempted to park in town. No spaces. She then drove down Saracen Place past an empty Saracen car park to Park in Saracen Way. No spaces. Third attempt, Permarin. No spaces and three other vehicles also looking to park. Result, she came home and went back later when out on another trip. Does this mean Permarin car park will also remain empty when the charges are applied?

Why should we have to pay 70p (was 40p) to park your car for five minutes?

As my cousin wrote in his letter people will not attempt to park in towns and support the local traders but take the easy option - vote with their tyres eat and shop in out-of-town pubs, restaurants and supermarkets whenever possible.

Geoff Rogers, Penryn