I CAN fully understand the anger expressed by Donald Clarke (Letters, April 23) regarding the £30 fine levied on him because his visitor's parking permit was not scratched off.

I lived in the Polygon, zone one, until November 2006 and can confirm that it was nigh on impossible to scratch off the gold foil.

After ruining several permits, I asked a traffic warden what to do. Without hesitation he told me to circle the appropriate dates as the problem was well known to the wardens and this was the solution.

I was never challenged for doing this. I find it utterly disgraceful that Mr Clarke should be fined for following a procedure endorsed by the wardens as a result of faulty permits.

MRS MAUREEN DARNELL, Regents Park, Southampton.