SIR,

If there were a top ten of crass decisions, the £3 charge for all day parking in two of Tintern's three car parks would be near the top.

The reasons trotted out by Cadw and the manager of the Anchor pub for the charge are pathetic, saying that the charge was necessary to make parking safer, how does that work?

Also, that you can have the charge deducted from your bill in the pub, is mildly forcing you to call in even if you don't need a meal or a drink.

As pointed out by a local businessman, another reason was that the charge was necessary to solve congestion and to maintain the car parks. Again, how does that work if you can redeem the £3 if you use the pub or Abbey?

I think that my wife and I are typical visitors to Tintern, calling in six or seven times a year to enjoy the walks by the river or through the village, calling into one of the other pubs or shops.

Sadly, this will not happen again, not because of the charge but because of the principle behind it.

We've been in the Abbey about twice over the years, and once you've seen it, you really don't need to see it again. It's the same with the Cadw souvenir shop.

I feel sorry for the local businesses on this one, it's tough enough these days to make money, and this will only favour a few and possibly more people parking on the roads causing real congestion.

Nigel Corten

(Newport)