Following the ruling won by Roger Hutchinson regarding the misuse of the spy car by Southend Council, does this pave the way for full refunds?

My traffic infringement most certainly could have been dealt with by my neighbourhood traffic warden, but I had no idea this defence would stand.

I’m not usually a fan of ambulance-chasing solicitors, but in this case, if any local practice does fancy a cut of all the thousands of pounds that have been stolen by this council from hundreds of local residents, shoppers and businesses, please put me down as your first client as this injustice should be addressed.

Alan Adkins
Parkside
Westcliff

...I have read the letters regarding the spy cars which make the lives of motorists a misery.

Having just opened a retail outlet in London Road, Leigh, I have found what should be the busiest time of the day – from 8am until 10am – is a non-event.

Due to parking restrictions, builders, decorators and others are unable to park close to the shop to make purchases.

The parking restrictions make no difference to the flow of traffic, either in the morning between 8am and 9.30am or the afternoon between 4.30pm and 6pm.

With daytime parking on both sides of the road between Crescent Road and Canvey Road, traffic moves freely both ways.

Alternative solutions which could be explored are parking restrictions on the Southend-bound side of the road in the morning and on the opposite side in the afternoon.

In the block of shops between these two roads there are at present two empty premises with a third due to become vacant and the position of another doubtful. Parking problems contribute greatly to the problems here.

I would think in the present economic climate the council should be looking for ways to promote local business, not try to stifle it with unnecessary parking restrictions.

Just as a matter of interest, where does the cash earned from these cars go?

It’s certainly not spent on road improvements or any benefit to the motorists or businesses affected.

Paul Saunders
London Road
Leigh

...I congratulate Kash Trivedi and others in collecting signatures calling for a rethink on the spy car policy.

As I have pointed out on numerous occasions in the Echo, this spy car is just a way for the council to fleece money from people across the borough.

Robert Brown
Northumberland Avenue
Southend