So yet another brilliant scheme bites the dust.

The small car park in the centre of the roundabout by Basildon rail station was, until earlier this year, free for one hour, and there were generally a few spaces available for short term parking.

Last Monday I visited the site to see the impact of imposing a 50p per hour charge with a maximum of one hour duration.

Surprise, surprise, there were just five cars parked. The area had been taken over by BMX cyclists riding the ramped walls and having a whale of a time.

Victor York
Buller Road
Laindon Basildon