WITH reference to K Lane of Dorset of October 1, you appear to have fallen foul of the bus lane off Rodbourne Road by turning left thinking this was the car park entrance for the Swindon Designer Outlet Centre, only to incur a fixed penalty notice with a subsequent appeal being refused.

I understand your frustration, as access to Churchward Park and the factory outlet village was badly planned, not unlike the Whalebridge debacle, the Blunsdon/Turnpike layout and the Belle Vue/Drove Road junction.

There was another car park you could have turned left into further along, although you would then have had to turn left to get out and not right to go back towards Rodbourne Road (don't ask me why) but if I was driving in Gillingham and contravened a bus lane sign and just so happened to bump into you, would it be acceptable to say I was a "first-time visitor" to the town and didn't see the sign because it was "lashing down with rain"?

Hopefully your shopping experience was more enjoyable but if you do decide to return beware as there are indeed (in your words) "further hidden traps to the unwary motorist" but isn't this the same everywhere, in any town or city?

M ARCHER York Road, Swindon