CAMPAIGNERS against the imposition of car parking fees across the Forest have voiced their 'fury' at the realisation that the total projected income from all the combined car parks that the council own in the area could be as low as just over £200 per day.

The facts emerged in a written answer to a question posed by Cllr Paul McMahon at the full council meeting on October 11. In answer to his request for a detailed breakdown of the projected income from the car parking fees, Cllr Brian Robinson, deputy leader of the council and Cabinet Member for an Efficient Council and Planning Policy, replied that the gross income from the fees was projected at £130,900 per year.

Opponents of the scheme were quick on their calculators, only to discover that the number quoted actually amounts to £419 per day, but with the parking management company APCOA (Airport Parking Company of America) taking 50 per cent of fees collected, this reduces the tally to just £209.50 per day.

"I could earn more than that by busking" joked Mark Ward of Coalway, who has taken to riding his bike to get to work in Coleford, in order to avoid the £10 a week parking charges. "But it does seem a pitifully small amount considering the disruption that they have caused by these charges – and all the fuss. It just hardly seems to be worth it. How can the council justify the knocks that they have dealt our local traders for such a tiny return? Businesses in town must be losing much, much more than that every day. £209 a day is just a joke, and I bet the traders will be furious about how low it is."

As the central car park in Coleford continues to be half empty every day, the repercussions of the protests outside the Council offices continues to be heard. Local traders are keen to point out that the towns in the Forest are still 'open for business' and that they are still trying to provide the same stock and services as before – in the face of a much reduced footfall.

•Cllr Robinson's written reply to Cllr McMahon also contained the fact that the council has earmarked £80,000 as a 'contingency' against shortfalls in the car park and green waste income over the year. This poses additional questions as to how the budget will be balanced once the true costs of the car park set-up fees are revealed, and where the additional funds would come from in order to maintain the interest of APCOA in their joint business venture with the council.