REGARDING the attack by Liberal Democrat Councillor Kevin Connor on my views on parking in Darwen town centre (Letters, March 15), if he wishes to know how many traders and shoppers have complained about all-day parking at the market and Foundry Street car parks, all he has to do is ask the town centre manager or the markets manager. He will find that it is a considerable number!

What is so wrong with wanting to help shoppers, many of whom are elderly or disabled, to park adjacent to the markets in spaces currently taken up by people parking all day? What is so wrong with wanting to help Darwen's economy by creating secure car parks and a turnover of shoppers instead of those three car parks being insecure and clogged up all day?

Of course, free parking is an attraction and Darwen has numerous car parks in the town centre that are little used. So what is wrong with trying to get long-stay parkers to use these instead ?

I would invite Coun Connor to think through the issues in a logical, rather than a knee-jerk, manner.

Councillor WARREN LISHMAN (Marsh House Ward), Powell Street, Darwen.