I was a little taken aback last week to discover that the summer rate of charges in North Corn­wall District Council's coastal car parks started from March 17.

Whilst I can appreciate that a higher rate of charges may be appropriate during the high season to offset the cost of lifeguards and other beach services, it seems to be pure profiteering to apply the higher rate of charges at this time of year when no such services are provided.

Indeed, at Widemouth Bay, whilst the council had been able to change the parking tariff notices and re-programme the ticket machines, it seems that they did not have the resources even to sweep away the wind-blown sand which has accumulated in the car parks during the winter months!

In the present economic climate, it is surely vital to the local economy that all reasonable steps should be taken to encourage more visitors to bring in their English tourist pounds in the early and late season. The high rate of charges being levied — for no services — in council owned car parks are an unjustified tax on tourists which can only act as a disincentive to visitors, and as such are detrimental to residents and local businesses.

Holding a virtual monopoly of the supply of coastal parking, and with a mandate to serve the interest of the community, the council surely has a duty to behave more reasonably, and only apply summer charges when lifeguards and other beach services are provided.