L. Cronin, Billinudgel.
As we have few ways to raise money from tourists to maintain our crumbling infrastructure, I am all in favour of extending paid parking to Brunswick Heads and Mullumbimby, and raising the fee to $4 per hour (as originally proposed). This may mean that we residents will once again able to find parking in our towns.
Yet along with paid parking comes yet another slug for residents: a $50 parking permit.
Paid parking is a means to recoup money from tourists, so why are we long-suffering residents being asked to pay a $50 fee to park in our own shire, as well as a massive rate rise to pay for tourist damage to our roads and public facilities?
The resident parking fee was introduced by the last dysfunctional council, with no rational explanation being given. Our new councillors should reverse this decision and return free parking to residents as a matter of urgency.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
