IN response to the council's plans for free town centre parking on Saturdays, the Association of Town and City Management suggests this approach won't work as it rewards the wrong behaviour.

What should be implemented is a scheme which links spend in town centre to a rebate of car park charges.

Car parks will be full of people whose primary goal is not to visit the centre and spend.

Better to keep the charge high, then rebate and as things improve you can then modify the rebate instead.

One thing about the rebate method is that many people won't bother claiming it.

Mike Ashworth,

via sthelensstar.co.uk