HAVING had no wish to further contribute to the debate of parking for the disabled, I feel nevertheless I have to reply to the letter from Mrs Jones in Bridgend.

Firstly, if she is 75 years old - unless she is extremely fortunate - she will know that oversights tend to happen at that age, especially if the writing of notices is extremely small and hidden behind an obstruction.

But perhaps Mrs Jones could not see that all the way from Glamorgan. As a Herefordshire resident I am aware of the parking problems here, and my objection was about the tone of the notice, not the parking arrangements at the hospital, much they may leave to be desired. And what stopped the parking attendant next to my car from telling me I was about to commit an offence when he saw me going off without a ticket?

I can inform Mrs Jones that my car is six years old, and being a widow and an old age pensioner I cannot afford to go shopping by taxi (the nearest supermarket is 10 miles away). I also do not have access to the internet to do my shopping, a fact that affects many old age pensioners.

Finally, I think Mrs Jones should know that I spent 20 years of my adult life looking after two severely ill husbands, one with MS and cancer, the other after a stroke that left him paralysed and unable to speak, read or write for ten years - while bringing up a child, working full-time and spending the nights nursing and studying to improve my position. There were no "hand-outs" in the 60s and 70s like attendance allowance, and I did not get a penny towards school uniforms or fares, incontinence pads, or home help as I was working (at a university, not as a city banker). The only help I had was from an elderly relative, being the only family available. Alas, I still don't get any "hand-outs" except for parking.

If Mrs Jones gets bombarded by letters, I would say rightly so!

MRS S MUIRDEN,

Ewyas Harold,

Hereford.