WHEN the council doubles from 30p to 60p the one-hour charge at the heavily used car park adjoining Marlow's Waitrose (the only full-size supermarket in the town) it has a responsibility to explain and justify especially when inflation is negligible.

The most obvious place to do so is surely the car park itself. All we get though is a curt notice "Warning! Note new charges".

I doubt I'm alone in finding this churlish and ill-mannered, reflecting the take it or leave it attitude of a monopoly supplier. What many might welcome also is some explanation of why nearby towns like Bourne End, Beaconsfield and Henley can provide parking close to shops at much lower prices.

Surely the considerable criticism of the increase should have been anticipated and some effort made to reduce the problem.

For example is it not possible to increase significantly the number of 30-minute bays from the six now available now there will be much greater demand for them.

Peter McKenna

Temple Lane

Bisham