Increasing charges for parking

SIR, – You revealed (the Press and Journal, February 18) that Aberdeen City Council is considering increased charges for parking in the city centre.

While these will be roundly condemned by the motoring fraternity, it could be seen as a move to encourage a shift to the use of public transport, which would be beneficial to the majority in the form of reduced congestion and air pollution. For the single traveller, it is significantly cheaper to use the bus/train for local journeys, albeit slightly inconvenient, when all motoring costs are compared to the bus/train fare.

A quick search for parking information revealed that a four-hour stay in the privately run car park in Shiprow would cost £12.20, if booked online. This charge is greater than that proposed by Aberdeen City Council. Local-authority car parks would continue to be significantly cheaper than their privately operated counterparts.

If they require additional measures to increase revenues from motorists, may I suggest the council follows Glasgow's example, where cameras are located at traffic lights to catch those jumping them on red, leading to a £100 fine. That measure would raise millions in Aberdeen, as it is a daily practice. Those caught would have only themselves to blame.

Ron Campbell, Richmond Walk, Aberdeen.