Sir, - The article on parking charges written by Nicola Fenwick (D&S, April 4) needs a little clarification.

As trustees of the Manorial Lands, the Stokesley parish councillors hold the land on behalf of the inhabitants of Stokesley for various purposes and not as stated "for the purpose of free parking".

The Stokesley manorial lands takes in areas other than the High Street. The lands do require regular maintenance and, from time to time, some improvement, such as a raised footway, as can be seen in Leven Wynd, from the 1980s.

To maintain the ground, the trustees need to levy appropriate charges, which can include a parking charge.

The businesses do not as far as I am aware, making any payment to the trust, other than where a specific area of ground is leased by them, and do not contribute towards the parish council annual tax precept, which in recent years increased appreciably.

R W BARKER Ladycross Farm, Stokesley.