Parking pain

SIR – Does the local council lay on events in Verulam Park simply as an additional revenue stream through parking tickets? I write regarding Saturday s schools cross country competition in Verulam Park which was attended by hundreds, if not thousands, of

SIR - Does the local council lay on events in Verulam Park simply as an additional revenue stream through parking tickets?

I write regarding Saturday's schools cross country competition in Verulam Park which was attended by hundreds, if not thousands, of people supporting their children in senior and junior events. With approximately 200 runners in each event that added up to a lot of extra visitors and where were they supposed to park? I was one of dozens ticketed whilst parked - with a valid three-hour ticket - in what turned out to be an invalid parking place in the Abbey Theatre car park.

My car was not obstructing anything, was causing no problem yet where else was there to park?

With an event bringing together the whole of the St Albans schools community should there not have been more foresight and additional parking set aside or is this really just another "nice little earner" for the council and their blue peril ticketers? The experience completely wiped the shine off what was an enjoyable and fun event for children and parents and I am one of probably hundreds who feel the same this Monday morning.

NICK HEATHER

Hatfield Road, St Albans