REGARDING the proposed charges for parking in Darwen town centre (LET, February 7), 'commuters' who are taking up spaces in the car parks are mostly council employees who have taken up jobs in the newly-refurbished town hall and those who have moved from the Social Services offices in Union Street.

It would seem, therefore, from the number of people who come out of the town hall door on the top car park to their cars, that the problem is of the council's own making -- through not thinking of providing parking spaces for their own employees.

If a charge is imposed on shoppers, they will not park in the market car park, but go to Sainsbury's, where parking is free.

And, then, where will they do their shopping? Sainsbury's will have a massive boost in profits and the market will go downhill until it finally has to close, thus centralising market shopping in Blackburn.

It seems to me that the underlying aim is not to save the market in Darwen, but to boost the market in Blackburn, thus depriving our town of yet another asset.

LYNN SCHOFIELD, Coniston Drive, Darwen.