HAVING just returned from a shopping trip to Blackburn in what must be the busiest week of the year for most retailers, I spent half an hour attempting to park on the shopping centre car park.

To my amazement, I discovered that the top levels were reserved for contract parking and were only one quarter full.

People were going round in circles trying to find spaces, finally abandoning their cars in areas where they were, causing an obstruction.

Announcements were continually being broadcast for these people to move their cars and the entrance to the car park was closed to traffic.

Surely, this chaos needs to be addressed, and some form of balance between privileged and shoppers parking looked at.

After all, the retailers are being asked to pay ever increasing rents, only to be denied the one thing they are in business for -- paying customers.

BILL WEEKS, Holly Street, Oswaldtwistle.