I WOULD like to respond to Mr Perry's letter of last week.

If Mr Perry had asked me at the time he signed my nomination form whether I would support parking charges my answer would certain have been negative at that time. Circumstances change, and until he knows the facts behind my change of mind, I will excuse his ignorance on the subject.

Perhaps critics like him would like to take a little time and attend in public a few Scrutiny and Full Council meetings – he is more than welcome, we are most transparent in our conduct – then he will see the pros and cons that balance a budget.

Simplicity in inself to exercise a raise in council tax – but to keep status quo is another side of the coin.

No one really wants car park charges any more than Mr Perry. With an extra 4,000 plus inhabitants arriving in Lydney over possibly the next 15 years, parking spaces will need to be increased which means investment has to be made to create the infrastucture.

The charge free Swan Road car park area is in need of investment and expansion. Charges will not be the death of our town which has been dormant for many years, and not caused by parking charges but by the advent of superstores, regional shopping malls, internet buying and your free bus travel pass to?Cheltenham, Gloucester and Chepstow.

As I stated previously, Mr Perry is invited to attend our meetings, as Dr Daphne Pearson has religiously attended over the past years. So "on your bike" to visit Coleford's so-called Ivory Tower.

– J Bevan (district councillor for Lydney East Ward).