Madam,

Having seen so many examples of Parking Eye’s heavy-handed operation, I did not contemplate being a transgressor myself.

On a recent visit to Aberystwyth and due to believing that the Rheidol Retail Park had a similar three-hour limit as there is at Tesco/M&S, while I was unavoidably delayed at a retail outlet in the centre of town, I was under the impression that I was still within my time limit.

However, that was not the case and I was 38 minutes over, something I do no dispute. The charges are my main bone of contention and put me in mind of the old medical practice of using leeches to draw blood!

My criticism is due to the exorbitant penalties meted out by bodies such as Parking Eye and the damage that these are incurring on retailers who are already under pressure from falling footfall as evidenced by the number of traders ceasing to do business.

Eventually the empty shops have a detrimental effect in towns around the country and if the buildings are no longer providing an income they fall into disrepair and become eyesores.

I live just outside the Ceredigion boundary but, being Aberystwyth born and bred with family connections and previous business connections, the town means a lot to me and I feel strongly about its survival as a ‘go to’ place. It is where I do my general shopping and a place of relaxation for eating out, etc.

I would like to think that pressure can be brought to bear on such as Parking Eye to make their charges a lot more reasonable so that people are not put off coming to spend their money in the town.

Yours etc,

Rhys Griffiths, Rhydcymerau, Llandeilo.

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