I WRITE in reply to Sue Archer's letter (May 14), regarding parent-and-child parking places.

As a first-time parent, I appreciate these parking spaces which are wider than the others. They give more space to get in and out of the car and, yes, I do need extra space to manoeuvre a child, a safety seat and myself. Having to twist and bend while lifting a minimum weight of 10 lbs several times a day makes a vacant parent-and-child parking space a very welcome sight.

These spaces were designed for people with babies and toddlers, not children who don't need assistance to get out of a vehicle. The few parent-and-child parking spaces does make them a luxury but a necessary one.

GAIL MacGREGOR