YOU have to have sympathy for Southampton's retailers, restaurateurs and hoteliers.

The retail sector has been facing competition from online shopping for some years now.

Coupled with high business rates imposed by a spendthrift inefficient city council which relies on income from parking fees so much that they are even imposed into nightime, we are now seeing many big and small names disappearing from the city centre.

The hospitality sector is struggling against fierce competition from fast food delivery businesses.

These seem to have increased in number since parking charges were extended so far into the evening.

Doubtless many meals have been cut short or desert foregone in order to avoid a parking fine.

Then, as if times were not difficult enough, along comes Covid 19 to deal a body blow to high street businesses.

Cllr Hammond and his colleagues then kick the retail and hospitality industries while they're down by refusing to temporarily scrap parking fees.

Cllr Hammond gives one reason as "People want a hopeful future for the city".

If this administration continues it fanatical plans to save the planet by excluding as many cars as possible from the city centre it will continue to shrink as people go elsewhere to shop and eat out where they are welcomed.

Cllr Steve Leggett is quoted as saying he is against temporarily scrapping parking fees "because that would encourage people to drive".

This climate change zealot doesn't want anyone in the city centre unless they've come by bus or cycled.

You can almost hear a collective groan from the city's retail and hospitality businesses.

Hopeful future for the city?

I don't think so.

Ian Cole.

West End