OUR front page article Cycle Shop Driven Out (June 13) concludes with the parking manager and NCP spokesmen blaming one another.

Having tested the appeals procedure myself, I would advise anyone thinking of doing so to be very careful. Do not waste your time going to Carne House, as you will only be directed to a back door where you have to use an intercom to speak to some anonymous employee, who will then advise you to appeal to Bury Metropolitan Borough.

Don't bother, either, writing to NCP as they will only send you a copy of a standard letter which basically tells you to pay within 14 days or else! If the appeals procedure fails, the penalty doubles automatically, or so I was told by the council parking manager, Mr Foudy.

One has to ask why NCP enforce the regulations so strictly and why there is no "give and take", bearing in mind that some town centre shops have no means of access other than at the front. I can only conclude that it is all about revenue and I am assuming that the NCP contract is based on penalties issued and that NCP are paid a percentage, whether the charge is collected or not. If I am correct, then NCP will issue penalties like confetti. On the other hand, the council officer to whom one does appeal also has the dilemma that if he cancels, NCP will still get paid. Perhaps someone will correct me if I am wrong.

In the article, Darren Stephens refers to the time when traffic wardens employed by Greater Manchester Police enforced regulations yet also used some discretion. Do motorists recall how some of them used to refer to those wardens as "Yellow Perils", "Gestapo", "Little Hitlers", and cast doubts on their parentage? I bet you wish you had them back.

A. WITHINGTON,

Wellington Road, Bury.