I RARELY write to the Press but I was so baffled and somewhat bemused by the recent letter in the press from the Lydney UKIP councillor who, according to his words has been the sole campaigner with his party, against car parking charges.

The information about the shortfall in income was fully accessible on the council website and did not require a Freedom of Information request.

Labour group members have persistently highlighted and campaigned against the charges and the devastation caused by their imposition – demanding an enquiry and fighting to get one.

It was the Labour group that spearheaded a scrutiny enquiry whose evidence clearly highlighted the negative effect the charges were having on the local business community and when this was ignored it was the Labour group which demanded a community impact assessment which again was ignored so the issue was taken back to the full council.

We recognise that car parks have always been funded out of local taxpayers' pockets and even presented an alternative budget to enable this to continue (approx 9p rise in council tax per week on a band D property).

The Conservative group aligned with the Independents  voted this out but halved their initial hourly rate to 20p-which has caused the shortfall in projected income.

It has been the Labour group which has pushed and campaigned against this unfair tax not a UKIP councillor who is not even serving  on the district council and until recently was a  member  of the  very  group he now so readily abhors.

– Di Martin, Leader, Forest of Dean District Council Labour group.