Having not used Colchester's only Park and Ride, I was surprised to learn one has to pay to park there even if not taking a bus.

Why should one be penalised for parking out-of-town and, for example, cycling instead?

Do we not want fewer private cars contributing to town centre traffic?

At any of Cambridge's five park and rides there is free parking for up to 18 hours.

Moreover, if I were a county councillor, of much greater interest to me than unpaid parking fees would be why setting up a park and ride has taken so long and when there will be more set up. At least two further park and rides can be easily imagined, in the west around Stanway (A12 junction 26) and in the east, possibly at Essex University (A133).

Steven Moseley

Colchester