WE see many letters decrying parking charges and blaming them, in part, for the decline of the town centre and local high streets.

One on-line respondent complained there were no short-term spaces available in Westbourne or Ashley Road.

There are plenty of free spaces in these areas and also other shopping areas such as Winton, Boscombe etc.

Even in Bournemouth centre. They just require a few minutes’ walk (or even less) to use them.

They might not allow you to park right in front of the shop you want to visit but the fact people see this as an obstacle just shows how lazy and demanding we have become.

Also, they are generally full. Full of shoppers.

We seem surprised when unable to park not realising that we are just as much a part of the congestion as everyone else.

Finally, Castlepoint! Virtually all the shops there (except the supermarkets and B&Q) have branches in town.

They're not shut. It’s the smaller independent retailers who don’t have bulk purchasing power and large advertising budgets who have. They were never given a look-in at Castlepoint.

If they did, they would be shutting there too.

Free parking didn’t help Jessops did it?

MIKE CHALKLEY, Cowper Road, Bournemouth