It's disappointing to read (Echo 22/10) that Dorset Council has no intention of reviewing the proposed increases to car park charges.

We are told that there is no requirement to consult.

Perhaps not, but if other views were encouraged, more innovative solutions might emerge than council officials seem able to produce.

This has been so in the past with other ideas accepted from Dorchester BID and Chamber of Commerce.

For example, in June Dorchester Conservatives suggested revising car parking charges in the town to encourage longer stays by shoppers.

This does not necessarily mean lower revenue, but a redistribution of the charges to encourage people to stay longer than the minimum they think they require.

This could be achieved by introducing the long planned and awaited “pay on exit” parking regime to avoid shoppers and visitors feeling pressured to leave the town when their ticket expires.

BRIAN PARKHURST

Fordington, Dorchester