IN a recent article (LT, Oct 10), community leader Lord Adam Patel hit out at over-zealous parking wardens. The council's response?

"It's up to the motorist to abide by the law" and it went on to defend parking wardens for doing a "fair" and "reasonable" job.

Let me enlighten you Lord Patel.

It makes no difference in Blackburn if you display a valid ticket. "Fair and reasonable" traffic wardens still leave parking tickets on your windscreen!

Recently my son parked in Blackburn town centre, paid for a ticket, displayed it on his dashboard and returned well before expiry time to find a parking ticket on his windscreen.

Several passers-by were able to read the ticket without a problem. However, the traffic warden could not.

The following day my son took his parking ticket, along with his paid valid ticket to Blackburn Council to appeal against the fine. Despite proof of payment, his appeal failed.

Councillor Alan Cottam says the correct procedures are carried out by parking attendants. Well Mr Cottam, correct procedures were also carried out by my son, yet despite proof of payment he has a parking fine of £30.

It was interesting to note £608,000 was collected in parking tickets, and cost of a 20-strong warden team amounted to £649,000. A shortfall of £41,000. Is it the council's policy to recover this loss from law-abiding motorists?

Mr Patel vows to campaign for a change in the system which he labels "back door taxation." I would sooner he campaigned against a system that I would label "theft from a law-abiding citizen!"

MR G WOODS, Cadshaw Close, Pleckgate, Blackburn.