I do park responsibly, honest gov'nor. I even go out of my way to do so. However, this effort is not being aided by the nabobs of our County town. Indeed, it strikes me that they are more intent on filling their coffers than acting either rationally or with restraint.

As some of you may know there is a small lay-by in Cardington Road, close the junction with St Mary's Street. I used it recently to avoid the traffic congestion on the way into Bedford. It is so much easier to walk across the bridge than to creep round St Paul's Square.

On my return to my car I was surprised to find a Penalty Notice stuck to my windscreen at the usual jaunty angle so favoured by Traffic Warden. I was in a lay-by!

Naturally, I appealed to the good sense and eminent fairness to be found at Bedford Parking Services. No luck. They pointed out, rather primly I thought, that the parking restrictions apply from building line to building line - and include the lay-by.

I suggested that this particular arrangement seemed to fly in the face of logic. Why permit or provide a lay-by and then subject it to the same parking restrictions as the adjacent roadway? My suggestion was ignored.

I paid the fine.

In the last few weeks an elderly couple were given equally short shrift for failing to display the parking ticket they had purchased.

In that case the appropriate fee had been paid and the penalty was levied for a period covered by the ticket. Sorry. If the vehicle does not display the ticket you have purchased, whatever the reason, you are penalised a higher amount (fine plus ticket) than if you had not bought a ticket at all.

Can it be that the only place logic follows law is in the dictionary? It certainly does not happen in Bedford. It is this sort of "job's worth" treatment that takes local government from being an object of respect to an organisation of ridicule.

The convenient, ample and inexpensive parking in Bedford which accompanies the wide boulevards and free flowing traffic has to be maintained and errant motorists are fair game.

You have been warned!

The wonderful BID crime statistics notwithstanding, has anyone else had their pockets picked in this way?