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YET again Sunday car parking charges have become a game of political football.

Our local councillors twist and turn, using specious arguments to impose a fundraising manoeuvre on Salisbury's churchgoers.

When the last administration introduced parking charges on Sundays, I corresponded with the then portfolio holder for environment and transport, councillor Dennis Brown.

I also put the case against the imposition on behalf of Churches Together in Salisbury to a meeting of the full council.

Councillor Brown stated that he could not discriminate in favour of the churchgoers on a Sunday morning, despite the fact that many other local authorities do.

Now councillor Brown, no longer in power, is reported as saying (Journal, February 21) that a continuation of and increase in the Sunday charges is "unfair to churchgoers".

If he had held that opinion in 2006 he would have had the authority and influence to leave Sunday car parking free for us all.

The new portfolio holder for transport, councillor Helena McKeown, received proposals from council officials to extend the hours of car parking charges in the evenings, but she threw them out.

She discriminated in favour of theatregoers and pub and restaurant customers, to protect the evening economy.

She claims that the £10,000 creamed off churchgoers last year - and twice that amount next year - will be used to subsidise social benefits, among them free swimming for children in school holidays.

When will councillors recognise that churchgoers in their hundreds make up an army of voluntary social welfare workers in Salisbury?

They may sing and pray on Sundays but they maintain the fabric of social cohesion every day.

Councillor Brown has changed his opinion.

It is time councillor McKeown chose to support churchgoers by removing this increased Sunday car parking charge.

DAVID ENSOR OBE, SALISBURY

11:05am Thursday 13th March 2008

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