I REFER to the letter headlined "Parking 'scams' are a bad joke" (May 21) from "Cheesed-off Chap". This case is no joking matter since "Cheesed-off Chap" has nothing to complain about!

Why? Because, after receiving his complaint on May 10, the council's car parking service carried out a thorough investigation of this incident, resulting in his parking fine being cancelled on May 14. In addition, we agreed to carry out a general review of the 24-hour limit signage on public car parks. This is underway.

Consequently, it is clear that "Cheesed-off Chap" gave only half of the story to your readers.

It is extremely regrettable that, notwithstanding that this matter was dealt with sympathetically and resolved quickly, the complainant then chose to make his views publicly known through your Letters page. Most crucially he did not reveal that his parking fine was cancelled and that in reply to car parking services (CPS) he wrote: "Thank you for your help; it's been much appreciated".

Regarding Mr Howard Hookham's compaint about a carer being booked for parking in a pay-and-display space while attending to a disabled client (Letters, May 21), can I say that Bury does welcome everyone to the town.

It was therefore sad to read Mr Hookham's letter relating an incident, to which he was not witness, before he had checked the facts.

Our records for May 13 show that the driver did indeed display a disabled badge on the windscreen of her car when she parked in a pay-and-display bay. Blue badge holders may park free of charge in a designated disabled parking bay, but are required to pay to park in ordinary bays.

The driver did receive a ticket but was invited to contact CPS and the ticket was then cancelled in accordance with arrangements agreed with the Bury & District Disabled Advisory Council (BADDAC) and as set out in the Disabled Drivers Advisory Notice which accompanied the ticket.

A simple telephone call to CPS, or the driver, from Mr Hookham would have put his mind at rest and shown that the incident was resolved to the satisfaction of all those people directly involved.

JOHN FOUDY,

parking services manager,

Bury MBC.

I think, Mr Foudy, that the point being made by Mr Hookham, "Cheesed-off Chap" and many other correspondents is that if a little more discretion, diplomacy and common sense was used by the wardens in the first place then the conflict and the appeals process, however sympathetic, could both be avoided. As would the need to write to us to publicly complain: editor.