• I WAS bemused by the Camden spokesperson’s comment that residents unable to use the online system to request a visitor parking permit will be able to phone for one, (Warnings over decision to axe visitor parking permit scratchcards, January 18).

I assume this phoneline would be part of Camden’s parking department and not managed by whoever was designated to deal with requests for exemptions to the healthy school streets scheme; but even so Netherhall Neighbourhood Association residents’ experience of the latter was far from encouraging.

Essentially that phoneline was not “manned” for about six months and as far as I know the department in question is still trying to deal with the backlog. Imagine how an understaffed parking department would cope with calls, for which instant response was vital, from the whole of Camden.

And for each of these calls, which might relate to a visit from a plumber, a builder, a carer even, the resident would be expected to have the details of the vehicle in question and how long the visit would last! Nor does it make any sense for residents to have to pay according to the emissions of their caller’s vehicle, over which they have no control.

Handing over a scratch card for the visitor to deal with is the only fair and efficient way to manage visitors’ parking. Camden must reconsider its proposal to scrap scratch cards.

SUSANNE LAWRENCE, NW3