CINDERFORD Labour district councillor Di Martin says the Forest council should be putting up council tax rather than seeking to introduce car parking fees in Forest towns.

She says the Labour Party is proposing putting up council tax up by 3.4 per cent, which is 9p a week, to cover the cost of car park maintenance.

"We think it is better to have 9p a week on the council tax instead of 40p per hour to park," said Cllr Martin.

"There are people who do not use the car parks but everyone will be affected either directly or indirectly because of the impact charges will have on town centres.

"Traders are saying people will be put off coming into the towns. In places like Mitcheldean people don't only use the car parks for shopping they also use them to go to the doctor. It's not right that people will have to pay 40p to go to the doctor.

"If our proposal was accepted, the council would not get the government grant for not raising the council tax but that grant is for one year only. What we are proposing is a steady rise rather than a steeper one next year."

Forest MP Mark Harper has already criticised Coleford Town Council for raising its council tax precept this year in the face of Conservative appeals to freeze charges and Cllr Martin's suggestion that the whole Forest should follow suit to avoid parking charges seems unlikely to meet with his approval.