IT was gratifying to see the suggestion of free High Street parking supported by Alan Goldsworthy (Letters, December 6.) I look forward to hearing about the replies he receives from our MP and councillors.

I also agree with Norman Bailey (Letters, December 9) that town centre car parks should not be treated as cash cows.

Richard Hart wryly raises several valid problems that maybe cited to stop such a scheme going forward.

Many of these problems could be solved by changes to current practices and the others could be tolerated if the advantages were thought to be sufficiently beneficial.

To this end, I have decided to gauge the general feeling of local people by initiating an online petition using the ePetition facility provided by Essex County Council, which will be available to sign between Saturday and April at http://cmis.essexcc.gov.uk/essexcmis5/Petitions.aspx

If you do think this scheme is worthy of further consideration please take a couple of minutes to sign the petition using the link above or simply Google Petitions - Essex County Council.

Please note the petition will not be visible until tomorrow.

Stuart F Elton Drury Road, Colchester

  • Wardens need extra training

I VISITED the town centre on December 8 and parked on the top floor of St Mary’s Car Park.

I made my way to the stairwell and opened the door unobstructed and saw two wardens with two homeless gentlemen prone on the floor.

As I walked passed, one of the wardens kicked the homeless gentleman, who was closest to the door, in the torso and shouted at him to get up.

This bothered me, so I decided to film the rest of the altercation and reported the incident to the police, I then, on social media, asked a question of councillors Mike Lilley, Tim Young and Dominic Graham concerning if the wardens have bodycams due to the alleged assault and showed them the video.

Mr Graham replied and showed due concern and I was very grateful for his professionalism on this subject.

I am concerned, as the conclusion and the issued statement suggested that “no stone was left unturned?”.

However, the fact I was not contacted, asked to give a statement or to provide a copy of the video is not really a holistic and inclusive investigation.

We all agree a foot made contact with the homeless gentleman who was prone on the floor.

The debate is the context, severity and hardness of that kick and the intention.

We must hold the council to the highest of standards at all times and felt on this occasion and the subsequent investigation, this was not the case.

A review of the code of conduct must happen and appropriate training must be given to the wardens to ensure dignity is maintained at all times.

Scott Everest Trafalgar Road, Lexden

  • This horse has already bolted

NEVER mind petitioning councils, it is all far too late.

The landowners in Marks Tey have sold their first rate agricultural land to developers, abandoning any sense of responsibility to the lives of future English generations.

My ancestors, the Dyers, were Master Carpenters in Great Tey.

My closest grandparents are from Coggeshall and I have a lifetimes knowledge of the land around Marks Tey, always growing very good crops.

We have 35 acres of clay/stone land that is totally unsuitable for growing crops but is left to provide a divide between Colchester and Rowhedge.

We are not allowed to build a house.

If developers were involved, no doubt there would be one measly road in, no room for cars, and cheap housing packed in.

Colchester is the oldest recorded town, but all records are stored in a salt mine.

The best Colchester can organise is installing two rusty old iron elephant cut outs at the top of North Hill, with yellow flags on every lamp post leading to the railway station.

In the Eighties, I lived in Mile End, at the time the general hospital was built, followed by the Oaks, and the Big Yellow Storage building.

I remember convalescent homes, Black Notley, Essex Hall, Myland hospital near the Rugby Club, Clacton and Harwich hospitals etc, all adequately serving the needs of a much smaller population.

It was believed the biggest landowners were hospitals, who had been left land in wills from prominent Colcestrians never to be built on.

With Severalls it was a case of having top lawyers working on the wording of these wills before it could be released for development.

Having now managed that one, no doubt the same is being applied to the wording of greenfield sites.

Nothing is or will be precious anymore and no one cares.

Mary Constable Margaret Road, Colchester