SIR, Further to Mr Clarke's recent letter regarding the commitments made regarding the Waitrose car parking area, I also remember the promises made by Waitrose that parking would remain free and that some space within the car park would remain available to patients attending Chippenham Surgery. These assurances by Waitrose have obviously been forgotten by both themselves and Monmouthshire County Council. Regardless of these historic facts relating to the car park, it beggars belief that Waitrose feel it is right for them to be the only supermarket in the area to charge their customers for the privilege of parking. Even if one ignores prior commitments on free parking and the inconvenience to customers of having to have cash available, surely any customers spending more than a nominal amount should have their parking fee reimbursed. It was recently explained to me by a member of staff that as £25 is the average value of their customers' shopping, it is reasonable to charge those customers spending less than this. If this is true it can only be assumed that Waitrose wish to discourage customers who spend less than the average figure of £25. They have certainly succeeded as I like many others who were in the habit of making frequent visits, and often spending less than £25 have now taken most or all of our grocery shopping business elsewhere. Well done Waitrose. They are presumably happy to have driven away the small spenders, and the other supermarkets are presumably happy with their new business. (Name and address supplied)