At last the folly of the Petersfinger park and ride has been exposed (‘New park and ride flops’ Journal, July 29). Jim Flux has revealed that, what many warned would happen, has occurred. To put such a facility on the most congested road into Salisbury was foolish and even Tesco, which owned much of the land, can barely have benefited with custom from its clever investment. It remains to be seen if the light controlled access to both parking and Petersfinger Road has drawn more unwanted traffic along the latter but it has blocked the only realistic bypass route.

Let it not be forgotten that this is another example of the incompetence of the former district council under cllr Sample and the earlier dithering by the Conservatives in 1996/7 over the A36 bypass.

The latter, approved by a long inquiry but delayed by Gummer interference, was fortunately cancelled by Labour. It was later revealed that the southern route was environmentally unacceptable but that was only after much was spent on the doomed Harnham Relief Road.

It is not surprising that a Labour government paid for deficit-producing park and ride to avoid funding the critically important A36 bypass, benefiting a solid Tory landscape while skimming off funds from rural council tax to spend in their run-down urban areas. The Petersfinger park and ride was the last straw despite many objections, not least mine on paper and in person at the council meeting. My two-minute appeal was met by a three minute diatribe from the then deputy leader about traffic and parking. I later learnt that he did not drive or own a car. Scarcely a peep from the portfolio holder for environment and transport whose expertise was more to do with medicine.

Now the faraway council wants to “persuade” us to use park and ride by increasing city centre parking charges. That will not affect city dwellers but the villages around it, like Jim Flux’s Farley seven miles away.

John Ellis, Association of Council Taxpayers (ACT), South Wilts

I don’t care how many park and rides cllr Tonge chooses to drive round the country visiting (presumably at our expense) Salisbury’s park and ride isn’t ever going to work, I should think this must be blindingly obvious to most of us.

To try to make it work by hiking the already prohibitive parking charges will only add to the woe of the already diminishing shop traders, whose inevitable demise can only be added to this financial disaster.

Tens of millions have already been thrown at this project, and this debacle shouldn’t be allowed to continue for a moment longer.

Cllr Tonge and all the councillors that nodded in agreement to this fiscal vandalism (we will be proven to be right no matter what the cost) should now admit defeat and step down and let somebody take over who listens to the people whom they are supposed to be serving, instead of pursuing this ill conceived, idealistic vision, supported by only a few.

Personally if it was up to me, I’d have them all chained together breaking blocks down on Dartmoor for this criminal waste of public funds, it’s an absolute disgrace.

Meanwhile I’m off to join the rest to do my shopping in Hampshire, it’s not that far away.

Ross Cassidy, Salisbury

Has Wiltshire Council ignored the medium term economic climate in its parking strategy consultation? Its consideration of increased and countywide parking charges would certainly suggest so. The inference that it might be needed to subsidise and provide a fillip to park and ride is an unhealthy step. Existing charges are already higher than Andover, Basingstoke and Romsey.

Have they considered that this will be precious little help to retailers if motorists are further deterred? I am of a generation that five years ago would never think of using the Internet for a variety of purchases – today I have little need to use Salisbury for shopping, which is a trend that will surely increase with many households nationally.

From where is the growth in park and ride to come?

Brian Edgeley, Firsdown

I thought I might take part in the [Wiltshire Council parking] consultation and went to the web page to find the requirements to comment unduly difficult so gave up.

It occurs to me that any parking plan should be based on making the town prosperous and encouraging people to come to the town and spend their money while safeguarding the residents as one needs to encourage people to become part of the community.

As far as I am concerned living in Codford, any rise in charges is a disincentive for me to spend my money in Salisbury.

Also the traffic plan is so bad for Salisbury making it a place to avoid at certain times of the day and days of the week. It is absurd that a city like Salisbury is gridlocked at certain periods.

M F Bremridge, Codford