From Jason d’Abbot-Doyle.
I AM absolutely appalled at the increase in charges for parking. Let me tell you a little story that I have a feeling many Islanders will understand.

My girlfriend was made redundant on 31 July 2009 and it has taken her five scary and at times distressing months to find a job – as I am sure a lot of Islanders can relate to.

In those five months we received no help from Social Security because there is no help for normal hard-working Islanders. We have a mortgage and bills to pay, and as you can imagine it was a very scary time.

Happily, she has now found a full time job – but at a reduced salary (and while on this point, most Islanders will have received no pay increase this year).

So while we have had to struggle for five months and have a lower household income, at least she has a job and we can get back on track.

But no, hold on, silly us! The States go and put up charges for parking, not just by, say, 2p an hour, which could be described as acceptable (even though we are in a recession – something the States don’t seem to recognise), but by 8p an hour!

Where the hell did that figure come from, a Christmas cracker at the States Members’ Christmas do? Seriously, somebody is a having a laugh.

Something needs to be done about this. We vote these idiots in and every time we get some new Members in we think it will get better but it doesn’t.

What can be done? And, by the way, this latest stealth tax is something that doesn’t affect States Members as they don’t pay to park. Funny that, eh?