WHILE the free parking at weekends seems on the face of it to be a good idea, who is paying for the private car parks to be free?

Are these private corporations giving us free car parking out of the goodness of their hearts or is it not ourselves who subsidise it through our council tax?

Throughout and around Bolton town centre there appear to be council owned car parks that are vacant but closed for some reason. Can the council tell us how many car parking spaces are vacant but closed and why?

For example, Chorley Street and Bark Street on the left going towards Knowsley Street to name but two. This obviously is driving money towards the commercial car parking enterprises.

Why not open all these up for free parking instead of keeping them shut?

If there is one thing the Americans are better at than us, is that free parking and catering for the motorist comes first. Then the public go and spend their money on the facilities available. Admittedly, we have less space, but why can’t we do the same?

Roy Caswell

Beverley Road

Bolton