Thank you for your excellent article about big supermarkets charging customers who use their car parks (There’s a parking fine in store, last week). This happened at our local Tesco (Uckfield, East Sussex) which gives you just 1½ hours to shop.
We and many others have complained, but to no avail, so we have voted with our feet and now shop in Sainsbury’s at Eastbourne, a larger store but with unlimited parking, albeit some 20 miles away. We recommend others who can to do the same and then perhaps the management will see the error of their ways.
Mervyn and Christine Mead
Blackboys, East Sussex
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PROTECTION RACKET
Until very recently I fondly believed that data stored by government agencies was safely secured by the principles embodied in the Data Protection Act. Your article on supermarket parking fines has convinced me that this is not the case, if it ever was.
If ID cards are carried into legislation can we assume that our data will be sold to the highest bidder for whatever purposes they choose?
Colin Page
Beeston, Nottingham
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CONVENIENCE STORE
I read with interest your article on supermarket parking charges. This contrasts with my experience. I used to shop at my local Sainsbury’s until a redevelopment programme began in the town centre. Because Sainsbury’s is very close to the town centre, those who work there during the day took to parking their cars in the supermarket park.
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As a result of this, at least half the car park is filled by commuters. By contrast, their store in Northwich imposes a two-hour rule, which is rigidly enforced.
Barry Lloyd
Great Sankey, Warrington
SIGN OF THE TIMES
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Could supermarket parking fines perhaps be avoided by printing parking time limits on till receipts ?
Keith Dodsworth
Skirlaugh, East Yorkshire
BABY MONITOR
The Rev Judith Walker-Riggs may indeed be right about the original intent for “Baby on board” stickers (Letters, last week). This system is admirable when used only while a baby is actually in the car, but frequently this is not the case.
My uncle was a station officer in the fire service and lost one of his team when searching for a baby on board following a road traffic accident. The car burst into flames, trapping the fireman, when there was no infant in the vehicle. Unless they are used only when carrying babies/children these stickers are meaningless and, at worst, can be lethal.
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Julie Wright
Darlington, Co Durham
MOTORING MYTHS
I am surprised that the urban myth of the “Baby on board” sign has persisted so long, as such a sign has very limited practical value. After any accident of sufficient severity to incapacitate all adults on board it is improbable that such a sign will be helpfully visible; it is much more likely to be mixed up with the debris in the vehicle or thrown clear.
Bob Caldwell
Milton Keynes
MAGNUM FORCE
I have heard the argument put forward by the Rev Judith Walker-Riggs regarding baby signs in the past. I always wonder what this says about the multitude of drivers who drive around with these signs proudly displayed but no child on board.
And as for “Small person on board” or the truly awful “Precious bundle on board”, I know what this tells me about the driver of the car. I bought my favourite sign in America, which advised “Protected by .357 Magnum”.
I made sure that I only displayed it when it was true.
Colin Scott
Kingussie, Inverness-shire
HAIR PRESSURE
Several years ago, when he was having one of his rants against diesel fuel, Jeremy Clarkson stated that he would rather eat his own hair than buy a diesel-engined car. Since then two things have happened.
First, as I understand it, he now owns a diesel-powered vehicle and second, in a recent edition of Have I Got News for You I noticed a pink patch could be seen on the crown of his head, so obviously he is beginning to honour his promise.
Peter B Hayward
Rochester, Kent
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