Why punish us for travelling to work?

I read with interest the story about Maidstone Borough Council’s proposals to increase parking fees for the borough’s long stay car parks yet again (Messenger, September 16).

Might I remind the council that not everyone who parks in the long stay car parks is local – or a London-bound commuter – and also cannot use the park and ride because of the restricted hours.

I live in Whitstable and used to drive every day to work in Maidstone town centre. There is no direct public transport, and the indirect routes were long and costly, so I had no alternative other than to drive – and I was not alone.

Please don’t forget workers also bring custom and trade to town centre retailers and businesses, so please don’t keep hammering them for more and more money for the ‘privilege’ of working in the town centre.

It’s all very well Cllr Fran Wilson saying she’s trying to get more people on bikes – but I’d like to see her cycle 27 miles and start a full day’s work before cycling home again. It’s just not realistic.

Perhaps there should be more incentives for local people to leave their cars at home to free up spaces for those who travel long distances to work here, or those who want to shop and do business here.

A £3 rise per day to £9 is just too much. Every extra pound you take from someone’s wages is a pound which could have been used to help support local business, such as buying lunch, a cup of coffee – or even the KM.

It may also make many businesses think twice about locating in Maidstone. J. Phipps Canterbury Road, Whitstable media to look behind them, where a large map of the area was pinned to a wall. “The sea,” he said.

Ukip retains its reputation as the party that likes to do things differently, losing its new leader just three weeks into the job. The news has prompted speculation that Nigel Farage will return for another spell. The more he denies it, the more likely it is it could happen. Bookmakers have odds at 4-1 for a return for the former leader.