Short-sighted cheap parking

12:14pm Wednesday 6th August 2003

The council’s lamentable decision to cave into the car lobby and reduce car parking charges in the town centre, encouraging more people drive cars into central Croydon, will result in suffering in and around the borough.

The extra cars on the roads will mean that more people will be killed and injured in road accidents.

The increasing congestion which will result will produce pressure to build yet more giant roads and car parks.

And this will in turn cause the destruction of yet more homes and businesses.

Bus passengers will be particularly hard hit as the increased congestion will mean slower journey times, longer waiting times and increased fares or reduced frequencies.

Council tax payers will have to face increases in their bills as a result of bigger subsidies to car drivers.

Even car drivers themselves will have to endure increased journey times, hold-ups and frustration.

Everyone will suffer from this short-sighted greed and cruelty on the part of the car lobby.

P Conliffe Ladbrook Road, South Norwood