I HAVE given a great deal of thought to the financial mess we find ourselves in because of the few, both locally ie councillors and nationally ie politicians, who spend our money without a thought for the future, as if it grows on trees.

I have recently returned from holidaying in France, but before I went I had a discussion with our local councillor on the merits of twinning, whether it was value for money for the majority and not just the few.

One of the points raised by my councillor was the sharing of ideas. It’s a pity that the merits of free parking is not shared on this side of the channel.

For the local markets visitors come from far and wide, parking on the road when the car parks are full, only a few car parks are meter feed, parking is at a premium, with shoppers struggling with parcels to deposit into waiting cars, not a traffic warden in sight as parking is mostly free.

Hardly any empty shops, everyone benefiting and what appears the economy is on the up.

A different story from the shop keepers in Dorchester who mainly, I’m told, are struggling to make ends meet with many long-established firms closing.

We are three years or so on from the bail outs of the banks, still no legislation to curb the obscene bonus to the bankers, just a lot of rhetoric.

We are still lending to countries like Greece who are doing little to curb their spending, but we are taxed to the hilt, with taxes likely to rise. We have gone through members of both our houses of parliament caught with their hands in the till and I suspect still doing so as little has been done to legislate against this happening again.

I would like to know when are we all going to learn a few simple lessons? like all politicians are here to serve the voters . Plus voters should not continue to accept what is being said but to question, after all we do live in a democratic country so I'm told, although at times it doen’t feel like it.

Councillors, both parish, district and county, why not begin to understand that grabbing money from minor things like parking (to fund what - your expenses?) is counterproductive to society and to the local shop keepers.

Do you really want all towns to end up as ghost towns? Then do something about it now.

Heather Robinson, Bridport Rd, Dorchester