SHERBOURNE District Council has stated they will not increase parking charges because they experienced a drop of 11.1 per cent in short stay parking and 6.7 per cent in long stay.

It's probably not quite as serious as it seems because, as will happen in the Forest towns, all the side streets within walking distance will be choc a bloc with parked cars. A drop of half of this will finish off many local businesses – more empty shops means less visitors, less visitors means more empty shops.

It would be too much to expect our councillors to stand up in front of their electors and tell us how much money had been collected and the "true" costs including, all the feasibility studies, extra meeting with lavish expenses, yellow lines, administration in collection of fees by a council officials who will need an assistant or understudy.

If there happens to be a shortfall in revenue at the end of the first year would it be a good idea for our councilors to reimburse the Forest of Dean council out of their gravy train expenses? Pigs might fly.

– Eric Haile, Newland.