Why were parkers not made aware of price increases?

SIR, — The other day I went to put in my £1.20 as usual into the Church Street car park machine in Downpatrick.

As I pressed the button for the ticket I happened to look up to see that it was only taking me to 2pm that day, not the full working day I expected.

Thank goodness I did look up, because I would most likely have been slapped with a penalty notice on the windscreen if I had arrived back as usual after 5pm.

I obviously worked out that fees had been increased. So the first ticket went in the bin and luckily I had enough change to pay triple what I normally do for the day.

My gripe is — could there not have been a sign indicating a price rise? And did it have to go up by so much? It’s been £1.20 for the day for some time. It’s very reasonable and I don’t think anyone would have objected to a small increase. Just let us know about it?

Also, I’ve noticed the car park is half empty now most days. So, it seems the council is without much of an increase in revenue, while the regular parkers are now trying to find a spot in Downpatrick’s clogged-up streets.

Yours etc,

BELEAGUERED PARKER,

Downpatrick.