YOUR story on car parking charges (The Crow, August 31) was again urging a faceless committee for a rethink. The story refers to the committee having no evidence to show that car parking charges directly affect trade in the town. What evidence do they ne

YOUR story on car parking charges (The Crow, August 31) was again urging a faceless committee for a rethink.

The story refers to the committee having no evidence to show that car parking charges directly affect trade in the town.

What evidence do they need? Do any of these committee members have businesses in this town?

Where do they gather their information, or lack of it?

Who do they turn to for answers?

I for one, as a retailer in Royston High Street, would be interested.

I have been a retailer here for 16 years, but I cannot see my business continuing for much longer.

The few customers we do get nowadays have one common complaint - Tesco car parking is free.

Their desire to shop locally is penalised, either by high parking charges, or the boys and girls in yellow.

Some months ago, it was suggested by the town manager that potential customers be allowed to use the loading and unloading bays for a limited period on Saturdays.

As there are few deliveries on Saturdays, it seemed to me to be a reasonable suggestion. What's happened since? Nothing.

I suggest that the committee starts talking to those who own and manage the few shops we have left, and not keep quoting invisible faces, and more importantly, committees that obviously do not know what they are talking about.

An interesting question for the North Herts District Council committee I would ask: have Letchworth and Hitchin had their parking charges increased?

And why does it not introduce car parking charges in Baldock, or is that something Tesco in Baldock would object to?

J DOWNING

Royston Photographic Centre

High Street

Royston