HAVING noted the frustration my colleague Cllr Joe Ravetz feels over car parking at St Martin's College, I have sympathy with him and other councillors in the John O'Gaunt ward.

When you are constantly called and asked for help to try and alleviate the problems building up with parking in your ward, you are obliged as a councillor to try to help residents.

I have the same problem on the west side of Bowerham Road because the streets opposite St Martin's are continually blocked by vehicles.

I get calls from residents who cannot get their cars from their drives to take children to school and then go on to work. They are fed up and, believe me, they will not give up their cars to satisfy the Green Party.

At the recent planning committee meeting it was interesting that my colleagues and I voted for extra parking St Martin's and were supported by the Tories. They too realise that you cannot always get a bus from the rurals to an early morning meeting.

The majority of the committee including the Greens and More-cambe Bay Independents voted against - the best part of it being that they do not live in the area.

So, unfortunately for the people of Bowerham and Scotforth, the vote was lost.

I venture to explain the situation because I have been accused of not supporting residents who want extra parking so they can access their own properties.

This plan would have gone half way to doing that. But despite this setback I, like Cllr Ravetz, will keep on trying.

I know that this scheme was contrary to the Green Travel Plan Policy of the city council, but we must listen to the electorate. This is what they vote for, to be listened to and heard.

Cllr Sheila Denwood, Lancaster.