I HAVE never used New Road car park, preferring to walk, while I am able, into town and save the aggravation of trying to find somewhere to park. However, a number of my friends, some of them low-paid shop workers, live outside of town and because of the deplorable lack of public transport have to use a car to get into work each day and free parking keeps them financially viable.

This car park has been in operation for well over 100 years with only one recorded serious accident (An elderly lady was in collison with a car and sustained a broken ankle - Gazette April 23, 2015). But the accident occurred on the opposite side of the road to the car park.

SLDC's Cabinet has already come to the decision that the car park must close before this alleged 'public consultation' has taken place. This seems to me to be putting the cart before the horse, especially as they are 'considering having a feasibility study for the possible use of Beezon Fields'.

Surely the feasibility study should take place before removing the 150-plus car parking spaces. Those who know the access and egress of Beezon Fields would realise this is a non-starter anyway.

Finally, the national Government is conducting a campaign to try to reduce the amount of carbon monoxide being force fed to the public. Putting a 'park' in this location where probably 75 per cent of the vehicular traffic movements in the town pass is not conducive to this aim.

Peter Holme

Kendal