As a resident of Cirencester, I have been watching the fiasco of the provision of car parking by the Lib Dems under leader Joe Harris unfold with increasing disbelief and incredulity.

Firstly, we have the plans to build one huge six storey car park in a dead end on the Waterloo car park, 72 feet high with over 600 spaces at a cost of £11m plus.

This has grown from 3/4 storeys despite huge concerns from local residents and businesses!

Secondly, we have the clever idea of dividing the town in half by making Castle Street one way so that if you were coming from Tetbury to use the new car park you have to drive round the town instead of parking possibly in a smaller decked car park at the station car park on the south side of town!

Thirdly, we have the closure of the Memorial Hospital car park (which by the way is still closed) whilst the hospital was demolished at a cost £750k to provide 32 additional car parking spaces!

Fourthly, following the suggestion from a member of the public back in April 2016, the rugby club was chosen as a site to build a temporary ‘park and stride’ on a short term lease.

After nearly four years of procrastinating, the Lib Dems sheepishly admitted last month that a further £192k was needed to deal with landscaping bringing the total likely cost to £600k for a car park Cotswold District Council won’t even own!

Fifthly, the Lib Dems announced that after 10 years of no parking increases they are putting charges up by 20 percent across the district to swell their coffers by another £500k at a time when high streets are struggling to survive!

And to cap it all, the architect of this car park fiasco is Cllr Mark Harris, father of the Lib Dem leader who was appointed to the Cotswold District Council cabinet last May!

Like father like son as the saying goes!

Will Martin

Cirencester