Attitudes

SIR, - I feel it is my duty to speak up about the letter from Mr David Simkins (Herts Advertiser, April 3) criticising your story on drivers ticketed for parking on single yellow lines in St Albans city centre on Easter Monday.

I feel that your story was exact and straight to the point - there was no warning about the change in rules. I feel that Mr Simkins has totally disregarded the fact that Mr Arnott's father, who is a family friend, actually did not want to walk due to the pain it causes and I find it disheartening that a member of the general public cannot agree that this is wrong.

I believe it is totally wrong for someone to condemn motorists in St Albans as the majority follow the rules and do as the signs say now that everyone has got used to the strict rules anyway.

On the lot of traffic wardens, I have found many to be extremely rude and arrogant and perhaps this is the reason that they are argued with.

I spoke to an NCP engineer the other day and he said he didn't like to come to St Albans. Then I helped a woman with her buggy up the Drovers Way car park stairs due to the new lifts not working. She was directed from one to the other and both were not working so had to take the buggy down herself because there was no-one there to help her.

This is typical of NCP and it is no surprise people get frustrated with them when paying for a service which clearly is not provided.

The traffic wardens I have spoken to never seem to know what they are talking about and of course this causes frustration. Yes they have a job but they should be able to communicate clearly with the public and at present they cannot do so as most do not seem to have the correct knowledge.

If they monitor us, why should we not monitor them? If they did not act as if they are like police, then maybe people would not have such an attitude towards them. Even so I have never seen a traffic warden in St Albans be disrespected.

D. KETLEY,

Harpenden Road, St Albans.