I read with dismay that Dorset County Council wants to install parking meters in Bridport.

Being midway between Dorchester and Bridport my family used to regularly split shopping trips between the towns, until meters were installed in Dorchester.

Since then we have not paid to park in the town and the shops have lost our business.

Similar losses will occur to the shops of Bridport.

It is difficult to imagine anyone, other than the county council, promoting the idea and it would therefore seem safe to assume that local democracy will prevail – unless that concept is a fallacy.

Perhaps Oliver Letwin MP, as a member of the government that advocates ‘people power’ will ensure local opinion is taken into account, unless he’s as impotent as the public are often made to feel.

NICK JONES Kingston Russell