BUSINESSMAN Gerald Biddle believes cash-strapped Forest of Dean District Council plans to introduce car parking charges will drive some shops to the brink of closure and put people on the dole.
He feels so strongly about the proposal – being discussed by members of the council's planning and leisure services committee this Thursday – that he is prepared to lead a French-style revolt.
"I'm quite prepared to be the first in line to refuse to pay. I know there are a lot of businesses already feeling the pinch and this could be the last straw. It will put customers off coming to all the Forest towns and must surely be in direct opposition to the council's regeneration proposals," he said.
Mr Biddle, owner of Posh Nosh in Lydney's Newerne Street, wants traders throughout the Forest to unite to fight the proposal. He is suggesting a series of open meetings in all the Forest towns to co-ordinate a plan of attack and make councillors think again.
"I feel really strongly about this. It is a dreadful proposal and it is going to create unemployment and lead to more empty shops. Many small businesses are under great pressure and this is just about the last thing they need," he said.
"The French seem to have the answer to this sort of thing. I don't like to advocate the sort of action they take but if it is the way to get the council to take notice then I'm quite willing to be the first to turn up and refuse to pay," he said.
Mr Biddle wants traders and members of the public throughout the Forest to contact him on Dean 845758 to arrange open meetings and prepare a plan of action.
Mr Jim Stewart, the council's director of planning and leisure services, predicted "a tough couple of months for the council."
The principle of charging in car parks had been agreed by the policy and resources committee in May as part of an exercise to cut costs and increase income before setting the next council tax.
"This year's council tax triggered a lot of soul-searching and councillors have expressed concern that such an increase should be avoided again," he said.
Mr Stewart accepted that charges would be unpopular but pointed out that all the adjoining towns charged for parking.
The committee is being recommended to introduce charges in 13 car parks. Consultants have worked out that with charges set at 20p for up to an hour; 50p for between an hour and three hours and £1 for three hours or more, the council could net over £228,162. One off costs to set the scheme in motion such as pay and display machines would cost £57,000 and annual costs, including car park maintenance, would be £127,000.
The report suggests a special rate, probably £170 a year, could apply to traders who use the car parks.