THE furore over the issue of free parking passes to borough councillors could have been largely avoided had proper respect been accorded to the feelings of the people of Blackburn and Darwen.

Only quite recently has the council made just about every parking area within walking distance of the town centres subject to charges, and now we have an army of wardens seeking out abuses.

To have free parking for councillors with no credible system of monitoring its use only for council business, smacks quite frankly of arrogance and tactlessness.

Anyone with a grain of sense must have known the reaction it would be bound to provoke.

Of course, councillors do a valuable, voluntary service for the borough. But let us not forget that they are not pressed into service.

They receive generous attendance allowances, and they can claim various expenses (including for parking when on council business).

I am a local magistrate, also doing an important voluntary public service; but whereas I have a free parking facility when in court, I am not entitled to use it otherwise, and I don't get an attendance allowance or payment of any kind.

When I want to park elsewhere in the borough I have to pay like anyone else. Why shouldn't councillors?

What has been done is open to abuse in that there is no credible system to ensure that the councillors must be on genuine council business, nor to prevent any of his/her family using the facility for social visits, shopping etc., and occupying space that others would have to pay for.

Councillors and magistrates may be elected and respected for their voluntary service, but they should not consider themselves to be privileged above the people whom they are charged to manage.

In my view councillors' vehicles parking free should display an "On Council Business" notice, which should be logged by wardens and a check made that claims are genuine, i.e., at a council meeting or otherwise engaged at the town hall (not just a "bob-in" for two minutes).

Unsubstantiated claims or failure to display the notice should lead to at least a parking charge or a fixed penalty, accounts to be settled quarterly with defaulters suspended until paying.

Name and address supplied.