There are many places along the coast, Seaton Sluice for instance, and Blyth, where car parking is free beside the beach, and while in the future Whitley Bay may have more to offer, this summer we still need to keep the visitors coming here.

No-one is likely to look at three building sites and an expensive car park and really believe that it is all the work of a caring mayor who is keen to attract visitors to the town.

If our elected mayor really wants us to believe that he and the council are committed to the needs of residents and businesses in the town, he should provide some practical help to get the traders through a difficult summer.

Mr Harrison, take the parking charges off, and urge visitors to find out for themselves how good our shops, cafés and entertainments are. If you do that they will continue to return. Leave the charges on, and the seafront will be dead by the time the Dome, theatre and swimming pool are finished.

It is going to take more than the opening of a skate park to keep our shops and cafés open.

MORAG HORSEMAN
Victoria Terrace,
Whitley Bay

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