THIS time Bromley Council really has "lost the plot".

Station Road Car Park in Orpington closes in October to make way for Tesco.

Currently shoppers, commuters, tourists and holidaymakers can all park all day by simply putting money in the machine at the multistorey and displaying their parking ticket.

However, according to the new leaflet Temporary Parking Arrangements Orpington: l From October, many roads will have pay machines and pay by mobile phone. But most will be pay by phone only.

l You have to register, the council will charge you a fee of £1 a month on parking. You call the council and pay on your card.

So, the deal is you pay to register, you pay to call the council, you pay on your credit card to park and you only get four hours maximum.

What if you can't get through? Well, a warden slaps a ticket on your windscreen.

And what if you do not have or want a credit card or if you do not want to risk transactions over the phone?

What about tourists and foreigners or those who do not speak English?

One word sums it up. Discrimination.

Most decent companies wishing to keep customers provide a freefone number.

Not Bromley. You just pay, pay, pay.

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