THE decline of shopping in the retail areas of Poole in this economic downturn will accelerate even faster due to unfortunate shoppers being harried by virtue of the Borough of Poole’s new camera car.

This is an appalling acquisition- £67k of taxpayers’ money spent on a brand new camera car plus the salary of enforcers who will drive it and issue spot fines. These tactics, especially in this difficult recession, are unbelievably crass.

Cllr Xena Dion may have seen it working in other areas, but that doesn’t mean it is right for Poole. She has scored an own goal.

I question the use of automatic number plate recognition by local borough council authority, are they really allowed to do this? Why are councils taking on big brother roles? The amount spent on the new car and staff is a gross waste of taxpayers’ money.

The poor old motorist is on a hiding to nothing and is persistently being used as a ‘cash cow’ to fill wasteful council coffers.

Why is this car being stored in an NCP car park in a cage? This car is yet another gizmo adopted by spendthrift local authorities when money could be saved or spent more wisely elsewhere.

RICHARD SNOOK, Chalkpit Lane, Wool