THE concerns expressed by residents and traders about car park charge proposals for Northwich town centre are entirely understandable.

Indeed those concerns and reservations have been made by both my councillor colleague, Sam Naylor and myself over a number of years to Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Hence us making the case that as development in the town remains, as yet fully complete, charging for public parking should only be phased, proportional to re-development and modestly priced.

But as regards the general objection to Cheshire West and Chester Council charging for parking, can I ask what other means have councils to protect vital services to our frail elderly and vulnerable children when - as is the case with this council - the Government has removed £330 million of its budget in less than a decade?

I suspect critics of the councils charging for parking would be the first to express outrage if our bins were no longer collected or our streets swept or our highways maintained.

But those are the kind of difficult choices councils across the country are being asked to make as the austerity regime continues.

Cllr Paul Dolan CWAC member Winnington and Castle Ward