I READ with concern the article in The Argus (Jan 3) concerning plans to increase parking fees. I am a private landlord operating within the city and likely to face an increase in trader permits from £700 to £800 per year.

It is suggested that these new parking fees will reduce the number of cars within the city and encourage the use of public transport.

Could those who are proposing such an increase can suggest how my staff can transport ladders, heavy tools and equipment to their work places without the use of a commercial vehicle?

It is clear that increases to businesses will result in increases in costs; in my case higher rents.

This local authority charges some of the highest parking fees in the country, with substantial surpluses each year.

It appears to have a policy of keeping as many cars out of the city as it possibly can and I as a private landlord would like to help.

Perhaps those councillors who are so keen to reduce car activity would write and agree with my suggestion to increase by 15 per cent the rents of all my tenants who have cars and live within the permit areas.

I am perfectly prepared to donate any surplus made to homeless charities.

I will, of course, in deciding which properties to increase the rents by, allow no additional charge for those tenants who use electric cars and would the council like to say in its ambition to take more money from the public, whether it will give free parking spaces to those people currently paying for permits who live within the parking zones.

I believe that this proposal is simply to increase revenue and make it more difficult for ordinary working people to be able to afford to live within the city.

Mike Stimpson, private landlord, Milner Road, Brighton