Watford Council’s policy on cars seems contradictory or even duplicitous.

It made the right decision to institute or increase car parking charges for those visiting Cassiobury Park.

It is just not feasible for every Tom Dick and Harry to roll up in their posh ‘Chelsea tractors’.

But then what is the council doing agreeing to increase the number of car parking spaces available in the park to well over 200?

There is already an overflow car park. What next? No doubt we can expect the spinney of around 20 mature trees surrounding the existing car park to be felled to make way for yet more tarmac.

At the rate the Lib Dems are going there’ll be very little Cassiobury Park left. Never mind a green space, it’ll be a concrete ‘carbuncle’ that no one wants to come to by the time they’ve finished ‘developing’ it.

October is International Walking Month whereby we are encouraged to get out of our cars and discover the benefits of a more healthy way of living.

Not that you’d know it from Watford’s gridlocked fume-filled canyons full of slow-moving processions of cars.

What is Watford doing for International Walking Month to inspire employees, pupils and the general public to leave the car at home and travel on their own pins?

If there’s one thing Watford doesn’t need, it is yet more cars descending on it.

There is a perfectly sited public transport hub for daytrippers to the park - Watford Met station - and the edge of the park is literally a five minute walk from the top of the high street..

Ostensibly the aim of parking charges was to deter car use. Or was it just to pave the way for more, exploiting the motorist and filling government coffers?

The council need to develop a robust and consistent approach to green issues or else their policy just seems muddled and confused.

Dave Degen

Whippendell Road, West Watford