HAS the world gone mad? We know that Tony Blair has lost the plot, so it would appear has our local council.

I am of course talking about the new parking scheme for Penn Grove Road, Hopton Road etc. As many people will know permits are required at the cost of £25 to park in these areas for longer than 30 minutes.

I own a house in Aylestone Hill with no off-road parking; the house is divided into three flats.

I do not reside at the property and telephoned the council to ask if I could purchase a permit as I need to visit this property to carry out routine maintenance etc., I was eventually informed after the third time of contacting the council that as I was not a resident I was not entitled to a permit.

If I was carrying out building works than I could telephone the parking attendant, who would allow me to park for longer than 30 minutes, however, if I needed to carry out routine maintenance such as mowing the lawn, I would not be allowed to park in excess of the 30 minutes.

Does the council really expect me to catch a bus from Bartestree to Aylestone Hill with a mower in tow!

RICHARD WHITTALL,

Mill Cottage, Bartestree.