Last year I parked in town, at 11:45pm. The car park became free at midnight, and I didn’t fancy forking out a couple of quid for 15 minutes worth of parking.

Assuming there would not be a traffic warden around at such an hour, I left the car and headed to meet some friends. As if paying £8 to get into a club and drink tap water wasn’t bad enough, imagine my shock when I returned to find a council parking fine on my windscreen. The ticket said I was observed at 11:50pm and ticketed at 11:55pm (5 minutes before it became free).

Anyway, last month I parked in a different council owned car park which is situated above a shopping centre. After putting £2.50 in the meter I then spent just under 2 hours in town.

Upon returning to my car, there was a parking fine attached to the windscreen yet again. I examined the ticket I had purchased and it said I had paid £1.50, NOT £2.50, meaning that a quid had dropped through the machine without me realising.

I wrote to the council and explained I was thoroughly miffed at losing £1, let alone getting a £25 fine on top. Of course, they explained it was my responsibility to check the fee paid and the fine still stands. But it got me thinking, when you consider the cost of council tax, not to mention the hefty rates that the shops in town must pay to the council, it begs the question why we have to pay for parking at all?

I’ve had my car for sometime now and as many people will know I’ve kept it in perfect condition. Whenever I have to park in public car parks I tend to park far away from everyone else because I got fed up of paying £60 a time to have door dings removed (caused by people who fling open their doors when parked next to you or or ram a trolley into the side of your car).

In fact it was only last night I went to the cinema, and upon parking right at the far end of the car park my friend asked if we should get a taxi to take us to the other end, and almost got his binoculars out.

But today, I came to clean it for the first time in a few weeks and some stupid DICK HEAD with a red car has taken a one inch chunk of paint out of the bumper and left a nice 8 inch scuff alongside it. I have no idea who it was but there is a bit of red paint left behind.

I estimate the cost of sanding down and respraying the bumper will be between £200 - £500 :’(