I READ with interest the comments by the owners of Vigour restaurant about the damages “over-zealous” parking wardens are having on St Helens town centre.

I have to say, if council leaders are trying to get more people back into the town centre, there needs to be a serious review of parking operations – both on public car parks and street parking/ business parking.

I can’t help but feel the threat of getting a ticket on a pay-and-display car (for just slightly running over) is putting people off coming here. I’ve been hit with a couple of tickets recently and it feels like these parking hawks are just waiting to catch you out.

I doubt these senior councillors or top officers have any lived experiences of this as they get their nice free parking spots near the town hall, but if they tried standing in the shoes of the ordinary man or woman they might pick on a few things.

I’ve also read in the Star about the plans to pump £90m into regenerating St Helens.

That’s positive, as it certainly needs investment – but if the parking system isn’t correct it’s going to be pretty damaging, especially when we have the free-to-park retail parks, which are rammed with cars.

I don’t buy the idea that public transport is going to be transformed within the next couple of years, meaning we will all be catching the bus, walking and riding our bikes into town.

So, yes, ideas on how parking should work in St Helens town centre would be most welcome.

What about a loyalty scheme of some kind or a parking membership that gives you reduced rate?

And maybe get the wardens to ease off a bit, hey?

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