THE Journal is now six weeks into the Show Some Sense campaign and nearly 5,500 people have signed up in support.

But the majority of our local Wiltshire councillors have not contacted us about it so this week we emailed all those representing the old Salisbury district council area, plus leader Jane Scott and transport boss Dick Tonge.

We asked them to get in touch before this week’s Journal was published to tell readers what they proposed to do about their voters’ concerns. Of the 28, eight replied.

Richard Clewer (St Paul’s) said he has been trying to get one-hour parking reinstated since before the campaign started.

“We need to look after the most vulnerable in society, invest in care for the elderly, maintain frontline services and support rural bus services. I will continue to look for a way to reintroduce onehour parking, but only in a way that does not harm these services.”

Chris Cochrane (Fisherton & Bemerton) said he will seek a consensus with other councillors and encourage city centre businesses to stay open for longer. “I will promote the cost advantages of using public transport, and the health benefits of cycling and walking.”

Mary Douglas (St Francis & Stratford, chairman of Salisbury area board) said a consultation was carried out and the decision made in good faith. “The Journal should publicise the one-hour parking slots, celebrate the reduction in the two-hour charge from £2.50 to £2.20, and encourage people to come to our city.”

Tony Deane (Tisbury & The Donheads): said the Journal is doing the city a disservice by “pinning hopes for a booming Salisbury on reducing parking costs alone”.

“As an outsider using Salisbury at least twice per week I have no problem in paying the current fees when I need to. Compared with London and other towns and cities the costs are reasonable.

“It’s time you took some responsibility for the perilous state of the nation’s finances and accept that some readjustments are necessary.”

Richard Britton (Alderbury & Whiteparish): said he “very much resents” being given an “ultimatum” by the Journal and although disappointed by the loss of the one-hour band was reassured to learn there are still more than 200 one-hour spaces in the city “I was one of the very few people to have taken advantage of the consultation opportunity to express an opinion. Since I am unable to speak with my head stuck in the sand I recognised the inevitability of an increase in car parking charges. Get real!”

Bridget Wayman (Nadder & East Knoyle): said it would be better for traders if the Journal were to publicise that there are plenty of one-hour parking slots and that the charge for a two-hour ticket in the car parks has gone down from £2.50 to £2.20.

The newspaper should park and ride and stop scaring people away from Salisbury. “Frankly, I don’t know what all the fuss is about as I seem to be able to find a one-hour parking slot in Salisbury when I want to do a quick bit of shopping.”

Ian McLennan (Laverstock, Ford & Old Sarum) said he raised the parking charge proposals at the outset with cllr Tonge “as I was surprised that Salisbury residents were to be penalised in this way”.

“I have checked city council records and cannot find any minute relating to the parking. I have also checked City Centre Management input to the consultation and find that they asked for a pound an hour. Can you advise which body requested the two hourly fee?”

Brian Dalton (Harnham) said he’d like to get a motion to council to reverse the two-hour minimum and is seeking colleagues’ advice. “Wiltshire has got it wrong, and it would be better if they’d just admit it. I’ve had complaints, and you hear them all the time when you walk through any of the car parks.”