I AM writing to express my absolute disgust at receiving a parking ticket, which I believe to be contrary to, and definitely not in the spirit of, the Disability Discrimination act 1995.

I am the holder of an orange disabled badge, and on Thursday, October 18, went to Altrincham to collect some pictures and a mirror from The Gift Gallery on Stamford New Road.

As the pictures were rather large I suggested to my husband that we park outside the shop on the double yellow lines, as we would only be a few minutes.

Ever the considerate motorist, my husband thought we might cause a traffic hold up at that time of the evening and, consequently, parked in Central Way in the bay marked disabled/loading, this used to be for disabled drivers only.

The fact that it states on the ground, disabled/loading would lead you to believe that the disabled take priority.

We checked that there were no notices on the post above and there was absolutely nothing there.

On our return some 15 minutes later we found a parking ticket on the car, my husband asked the traffic warden why and he said the sign clearly stated no disabled drivers after 16.30hrs.

On checking we did find signs to the right and left of the bay we had parked in but none at the exact spot.

I would like to know why, as we were in effect loading pictures and why, when there was no market and only one other car parked in the area, we should be penalised for being considerate to other drivers?

Altrincham is fast becoming a ghost town, we have always patronised the town as opposed to the Trafford Centre etc.

In the light of these events and the fact that Altrincham is one of the few towns in this country to charge disabled drivers for parking in the town centre car parks, we shall think long and hard before venturing there again.

The parking services department is encouraging the demise of what once was a bustling market town and I am sure I am not alone in these sentiments.

Christine Brundrett, Timperley