We the undersigned want the council to understand the importance of Witton park to the local and wider community and to rethink the proposed car parking charges that will ultimately deter people from getting healthy, happy and enjoying a fantastic free facility in a town that has been severely hit financially in recent years. We disagree with the decision to introduce car parking charges at the park for the following reasons:  1. Couch to 5K has been running FREE sessions at Witton for all participants for the last 3 years with more than 3,500 people, many previously inactive, learning to run/jog for 3.1 miles. People need to attend 3 times per week. They receive no external financial support from anybody and are completely self sustaining. Cost can be a barrier to participation. 2. Couch to 5K was set up after Kate Hollern appealed for residents to make the borough a better place under the Your Call project. We established a network of hundreds of unpaid volunteers to help deliver our programmes. Now these volunteers, around 80 attending each session, will incur new costs each time they volunteer their time. This is unfair. 3. Residents deserve to be protected from the parking chaos which will result from people parking nearby and walking to the park to avoid the parking charges. If a residents parking scheme is introduced then I'm not confident the area has the capacity to cope with larger events at the park, during the dark winter evenings. 4. Witton park is used by the local and wider community for a whole plethora of activities from dog walking, leisurely strolls with friends, jogging and taking the children for an afternoon playing at the park. A car parking fee would deter people from coming to the park as there are many other alternatives in neighbouring towns that are free of charge, it would be a great shame to see our local park that brings people to blackburn become derelict due to a car parking fee. This park is used by everyone; from football and netball practice to people just wanting to enjoy the outdoors with their family. A car park fee will deter many people from going to this fantastic facility and it will be a great shame to see a loved park become derelict.