Readers’ Letters: If Yorkshire Water hadn’t introduced parking charges there would be no machines to damage

Readers’ Letters is a free weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

This letter came after vandals struck at Yorkshire Water-owned Swinsty Reservoir. An eyewitness told the Stray Ferret CCTV cameras had been removed, card payment machines smashed and signs had disappeared.

No one condones vandalism, but it has to be said that if Yorkshire Water had not introduced these Scrooge-like, unjustified charges then there would be no machines or cameras to be damaged.

I do not understand why the public should pay for the pleasure of walking in the area. Is nothing free these days?

Surely, if Yorkshire Water - a failing monopoly - can pay its senior managers telephone number salaries and inflated bonuses, it can afford to provide free parking.

Penny-pinching seems to be the order of the day.

Eric Buckland, Knaresborough 

Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.

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