There’s good reason to be concerned about the introduction of parking meters on Bridport’s streets.

Shortly after the same happened in Dorchester, I received a ticket for parking for a few minutes on a Sunday afternoon.

I had been dropping off a cheque and was unaware parking was no longer free. The arguments being made for having meters in Bridport are much the same as previously used in Dorchester.

Yet, I see no signs of Dorchester traffic flowing more freely or of its town centre being re-invigorated. I, naturally, now try to avoid the place.

This is all about raising money.

What’s particularly galling is that this is being proposed by the same Highways Department that has wasted millions of pounds burning off white lines and digging out reflector studs on the coast road and replacing perfectly good roundabouts in Weymouth with unnecessary traffic lights.

If the county council is that desperate for cash let it slash the Highways Department.

Lester Cowling Beach Road West Bexington