Sir, I read with some disappointment the piece in last week's Gazette over the proposals from South Lakeland District Council to charge for residents' parking permits (Gazette, February 4, Pay to park at home').

The report covered only one aspect of the debate and didn't mention at all the overwhelmingly opposite view of Cumbria County Council's Local Committee, who are the final deciders.

Myself and other councillors made clear that while SLDC may want to raise even more money from council tax payers, as far as the county council is concerned the scheme stays a free one as far as residents' permits are concerned. The committee endorsed this.

My view has always been that because residents' exemption schemes take so long to introduce and invariably the decision to start the bureaucratic process comes after months, sometimes years, of frustration for local residents, that to then charge those same residents for the dubious privilege of being able to park on street, near their homes is a nonsense.

That was the clear message given out from the meeting and I hope people now understand the real position.

Martyn Jowett, County councillor...

Kendal Highgate Division.