OVER recent weeks I have been asked many times about the introduction of car parking charges by the Forest of Dean District Council, my views, and how I voted etc. There have also been comments made about the Independent Group and their role in the council. I would therefore hope to put the record straight in that I am an Independent in the true sense of the word and happy to explain how I voted on any issue including that of car park charging.

Having attended every meeting from the initial presentation and the subsequent full council meetings as well as those of the scrutiny committee, on which I sit, all the way through to the Cabinet meeting at which the final decision was made, I can assure you that although voices were heard at council and at the Scrutiny Inquiry they were largely ignored by the Cabinet.

All the way through this process I have spoken at many meetings against the introduction of car parking charges, believing that my views were being listened to.

In particular I have been vehemently against the imposition of charges in the car park at Mitcheldean. This car park serves just a couple of shops as well as the library and the doctor's surgery. The inclusion of this car park has infuriated me from the beginning, Mitcheldean is not a town, it is a village with village facilities. I voted against the scrutiny committee report and its recommendations both at committee and at full council, on the principle that I am against charging at this time.

I was, however, pleased that this cross party committee recommended that Mitcheldean be treated differently along with the other village car park of Redbrook. Even though the report's recommendations were accepted by full council the Cabinet largely ignored it. They accepted some small recommendations such as the installation of bike racks and the publishing of where the money raised will be spent.

They ignored a request that they look differently at Mitcheldean and Redbrook and totally ignored recommendations that an initial free period be looked into as well as refusing to provide a business model for each individual car park.

I believe that this decision is detrimental not only to the public in the Forest but especially to the traders who are the ones that will bear the brunt of this decision, especially those in my ward of Mitcheldean.

I feel that as a council we have let you down, that in these troubled times your efforts should be applauded by and supported by the council and that you should not be facing another potentially damaging attack on your trade by the council.

Our Forest towns need help as they will die without some new businesses lining the streets. We need to encourage businesses and encourage visitors into the towns to make them more vibrant and interesting places to visit and shop in. As it is, I fear they will soon resemble Wild West frontier towns with tumble weed rolling down the high streets.

As a new councillor I had hoped to make a difference and whilst I promise to always champion any cause I believe in regardless of party politics and to always act independently, I have to say that I am bitterly disappointed with the blind adhesion to party politics I have seen in action by the Conservative party so far in this council.

I accept views held by many, including some independents, that charging is a good idea and with the Conservative government insisting on no council tax increase, stealth taxes are an option to fill the deficit, but the way the Cabinet have ignored any recommendations they didn't want to hear has been, frankly, disappointing.

I will always accept the result of a democratic vote, but I don't think this current Cabinet system is democratic. I can assure you, however, that I am Independent and I will vote on every issue on its merit and in accordance to that which I believe will benefit my ward and the Forest of Dean in general.

– Ian Whitburn, Independent District Councillor, Mitcheldean and Drybrook.