I REFER to the front page story on Monday, August 21, "Disabled drivers charge shock".

Do the council officers not realise that until "the rogue drivers" using illegally obtained badges are brought to book, we, the legitimate holders, are being penalised further?

So, in addition to our pain and suffering, we are forced to pay parking fees to do essential shopping and visits to doctors and health centres in the town centre.

Do the councillors know, or have they taken the time to find out, that, at Bolton Market, there are only four designated disabled parking bays?

On market days if we are not lucky enough to get in one and have to park in a normal parking spot we have to pay the usual fees. Sometimes these few spots are taken up by people who don't give a jot and will park their vehicle anywhere. Never mind if it is a disabled spot - just as long as they are all right. I find this most bizarre, as any other town we visit - Blackpool, Windermere, Coniston to name a few - disabled badge holders can park for free.

Why should I have to pay to park in the town where I pay full council tax?

Cllr John Byrne states that they want to make it fair and attractive for all drivers to park in the town. I think this smacks of discrimination and this is hardly fair to penalise disabled people further, without adding insult to injury when all is not being seen to be done to bring the people who are using the system to book.

I, and a lot more people, am disgusted with these proposals. Let's hope that sense will prevail and the Town Hall will put their energies into finding the real villains.

Leave the elderly and disabled alone. They have enough to contend with.

I remain disgusted and dismayed at the ludicracy of it all.

June Hall, St Catherine's Drive, Farnworth