Susan Powell, East Cowes:

I read with despair about the Isle of Wight Council’s proposals to increase parking charges (CP, 16-03-18).

I feel this is a financial burden too much for our towns, and would-be shoppers, to bear.

I don’t like shopping online and much prefer to see what I’m getting, which means going shopping, in the old-fashioned way.

I don’t want to have to pay even more for the privilege to park, having already paid council tax, road tax, insurance, MoT costs etc etc.

On a walk from Appley to Seaview the other day, my son and I commented on the amount of empty houses abutting the coastal path in Seaview: on turning inland into the town, we noticed the only people around were workmen and folk working in the hotel.

Now here’s an idea. How about putting a higher levy, not to mention charging full council tax, on all those empty houses?

If you collected revenue from all of these part-time properties all over the Island, there would probably be enough money annually for all of us to enjoy free parking in perpetuity, plus a holiday in the Bahamas.

Just a thought.