A FEW years ago my wife parked in the Asda car park and put 2 x 20p coins in the ticket machine for a two-hour ticket (as it was then).

Unnoticed by her, the machine had registered only one of the coins and issued a one-hour ticket. Needless to say, 1 hour and 15 minutes later a most efficient parking warden had slapped a penalty notice on the windscreen.

We wrote to the council to explain but they refused to accept our explanation, insisting that my wife should pay a £5 fine.

Since then we have consistently shopped in Northwich where the parking is free.

Sorry, Crewe traders, but until the council is prepared to be a bit more understanding, we won't be back.

Martin Pickering

Sandbach

Via e-mail