Ignore the fact that the 'pence' is not to my knowledge a legal unit of currency in this country – perhaps some enterprising lawyer could earn himself a bob or two by challenging the notice in court – but assuming that the legal staff who drew up the parking order meant one penny per minute, then the question arises as to how this can be achieved when then smallest coin acceptable by the ticket machines is five pence.

In effect, if somebody wants to park for 11 minutes (as if they would, but they could) it will cost them not 11p but 15p.

So why not speak the truth and say 5p per five minute period?

A further question that could be asked is how an ultra short-term parking system such as this can be enforced effectively.

In practice it would require a parking inspector to patrol the street every five minutes to ensure that the regulations were not being abused.

Not a practical prospect, I think.

It's just as well that the council has decided at the last minute to withdraw the scheme for further consideration.

Surely I was wrong when it crossed my mind that the forthcoming local elections could have had something to do with this decision.

Anyway, I hope that they can come up with something better next time.

JOHN KING
Whitley Bay