We moved to Portishead in 1991 and have seen substantial changes in the town, not least the growth in housing stock and the population (which has obviously substantially increased the income from council tax for NSC).

However, the one thing that has been consistent has been our regular visitors to the Lake Grounds, often referred to as the jewel in Portishead’s crown.

This area contains a lot of clubs and facilities which Portishead residents use, and these are supported by people who volunteer.

Despite appeals from Portishead residents and local councillors, six representatives of NSC Executive took the decision to introduce car parking charges on the Lake Grounds.

This will have a huge impact on the residents in Portishead and a large number of organisations and their volunteers.

The Portishead Lido volunteers are unlikely to continue to man this much-used facility if they have to pay to park.

Likewise, the visitors to the Lido, which would have a detrimental impact on the Lido Trust's income.

Portishead Tennis Club and Portishead Cricket Clubs, which both have youth training sessions, will struggle and teams are unlikely to attract visitors as competitors would have to pay.

The four Bowls Clubs' visitors/competitors would have to pay.

The café concession - which NSC derive an income from - would lose money as visitors to the Lake Grounds are unlikely to stay, the list goes on….

Dog walkers would have to pay despite the fact they are rarely there for an hour.

The proposed charges for the Lake Grounds are greater than those for Roach Road and other areas in North Somerset based on the premise that it attracts "tourists".

Yes, we do get visitors but the majority of users are Portishead residents who pay council tax.

This is not Weston-super-Mare!

There is no free parking period, not even 15 minutes, and we understand there is no intention to give Blue Badge holders free parking - surely this is a legal requirement.

If NSC are relying on the so-called ‘consultation’ to support the view that residents are willing to accept parking fees, it should be borne in mind that it gave no option to say no fees should be introduced and therefore was flawed.

What is even more astonishing with this proposal is that NSC intend to borrow £500,000 to fund the project and, their own analysis classes this as a high-risk strategy.

There is no guarantee that the parking fees would cover the costs.

It will not provide any relief for the so-called shortfall in council funds, which is the reason they are giving for introducing the fees.

It is a joke!

The whole scheme is wrong and should be dropped.

Linda and Trevor Hodgetts

14 St Peter’s Road, Portishead.