Sir.-I wish to register my reaction to having to pay for disabled car parking at Basingstoke hospital.

I have recently acquired a disabled "blue badge", through long-standing medical conditions and increasing age.

That does not mean my mental capacity is any less diminished, and when I read the comments of hospital trust chief executive Mary Edwards, my blood reached boiling point.

Can she not decide for herself that imposing parking charges on the disabled is completely wrong?

There are so few disabled spaces as it is, and some of those always seem to be occupied by persons not displaying a badge.

For goodness sake, Mrs Edwards, surely it doesn't need a committee to state the obvious.

Here's one person who will prefer to fade away at home rather than give others the satisfaction of squeezing the last few pennies from our meagre incomes.

If the scheme continues, I'll be advising my hospital consultants not to make me any more appointments.

-Jim Rose, Basingstoke.