Sir, In last week's Herald you quote me in an article that focused on staffand councillors at the Vale losing their parking permits. Much as the reportrightly focused on the financial problems at the Vale which are causing anumber of job cuts, I feel I must highlight a much bigger problem of carparking charges in the district. I am much more concerned for the vitality of our town centres than I amabout whether or not I receive a parking permit. The problem with which weare faced is a structural one. The Vale District Council has becomedependent on the revenue for car parking, so that in difficult times, whenwe should be encouraging shoppers back into our town, we are actuallyincreasing charges and sending people away to towns such as Didcot andWitney which welcome shoppers. I fear that all of the towns in the Vale will suffer until the Councilaccepts that parking isn't just an extra service that can be squeezed whentimes are tough, it is essential to our local economy and should take a muchhigher priority. I still hope to find a way to make the first hour free inall Vale car parks.