I first raised the matter with the council's property team, and they with Mr D'Alessio, last April, after receiving a number of complaints, particularly from elderly people living opposite the site. The issues were noise, damage to verges and danger to pedestrians caused by attendees driving and parking on verges and pavements.

Mr D'Alessio declined to take responsibility for what was happening outside the Wirrina. The council installed some additional fencing in July to try and protect one verge.

I personally witnessed the most appalling and dangerous manouevering and parking on verges and pavements a couple of weeks ago, and then had a further complaint from a resident.

This was taken up with the council's property team who contacted Mr D'Alessio again.

At the same time, I decided to publish the story on my website so residents were aware that something was being done, from where it was picked up by the media.

I am afraid that I cannot agree that these problems came as a surprise to Mr D'Alessio because he had previously been contacted by the council and, more importantly, he would see what was happening every week in the same way that I did.

There are indeed lots of car boot sales in the Peterborough area next to residential areas where the same issues could occur, but if no com- plaints are received then no action will be taken. It is plain daft for Mrs Killick to suggest, on the back of action on one sale, that I am somehow suggesting that all car boot sales should cease.

Of course, it is not Mr D'Alessio who is engaging in the irresponsible and dangerous behaviour, although he could perhaps do more to help control it.

It is my job to act on residents' complaints and the evidence of my own eyes, and, unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any other way of controlling the behaviour except by ending the activity.

No doubt the offenders would simply spout abuse if challenged.

There are rarely parking attendants in the area, but as soon as they are seen the poor behaviour stops and fines can't be issued. The £3,000 or so the council receives per annum is very quickly swallowed up by timedealing with complaints, filling pot-holes, replacing cracked paving, repairing damaged verges, etc. In addition, there is danger to pedestrians and cyclists where vehicles mount kerbs to park on footways.

I would suggest Mrs Killick turns her ire on the real villains of the piece – the irresponsible motorists who are too lazy to walk a few yards or seek free parking oblivious to the danger and illegality of it, and who feel it is their right to leave their vehicles wherever they like, regard- less of the consequences. She certainly seems to know little about the real issues or the role of a local councillor.

STEPHEN GOLDSPINK
St Mary's Close
Peterborough

Car parking problem isn't down to car boot

I would like to support Mr D'Alessio. I don't think during the summer it was traffic from the boot sales causing the problem.

I know for a fact that whenever there was an athletics meeting at the track, cars were parked everywhere, with so many visitors at these events from early morning to evening, it was bound to happen. Did no councillors think to find out what was going on before blaming the car booters?

Even if the Wirrina had been empty, there would still have been insufficient parking.

On several occasions I have stood and watched the traffic wardens putting tickets on cars when the owners were with their children at the athletics meeting. How much revenue has this generated? The wardens have had a field day many Sundays.

I have never seen damaged grass verges along that part of town.

As for rubbish, there is always rubbish round the Wirrina whenever I've used the facility.

Get your facts right before blaming Mr D'Alessio. We may all be very glad of this facility before the credit crunch is over.

ANN COPEMAN
Jasmine Way,
Yaxley,
near Peterborough

Related:
Call for end to Wirrina car boot sale, 7 October 2008.

Readers' letters: Car boot sale must be lucrative for the council 09/10/08.


Do you remember '60s event?

I am looking for any photos or memories that your readers might have about an event which took place from to June 2 to 4, 1968, and featured John Mayal's Bluesbreakers, Fairport Convention, the Pretty Things and many others.

I would be grateful if you would ask your readers to e-mail any photos or information to me at paulascott28@hotmail.com.

PAULA SCOTT