I FEEL, as a parent, it is important to strike a balance between a child’s education and leisure time as promoted by the government. I’m fortunate in that my two children are sporty and reap the benefits of taking part in many activities at Hereford Leisure Centre at considerable cost.

As a long-term and regular user of the centre I was mildly perturbed at the introduction of parking fees a while ago, but have always paid the fee on each visit and not sought to park on a dangerous trunk road or private car parks in the vicinity to save £1.

Recently after a round of golf that cost nearly £20 I returned to my car to find a penalty notice attached to the windscreen and immediately recognised my mistake in genuinely forgetting to pay. I was astounded to discover that the cost of not paying a £1 parking fee is £75 (reduced to £45 if paid within a set time).

There are two points I’d like to make. How can anybody justify this extortionate amount? But more importantly, this punitive measure is short-sighted and costly in the longer term.

You won’t be surprised to learn that I will no longer visit the leisure centre and the revenue that I would have generated is now lost for years to come, and far exceeds the fine that, as a law-abiding citizen, I have just paid.

D HUTCHINSON Lower Bullingham