THE planet Cllr Robinson lives on is still there. What on earth makes him think car parking charges are the answer to the financial ills of the Forest of Dean?

Charging council taxpayers or visitors to the Forest is not the answer for the council's financial difficulties. Quite the opposite.

If Forest motorists are 'driven' out of Forest carparks the council only have themselves to blame. Shopping facilities are pretty poor in Forest towns and I believe that most Forest motorists would prefer to drive to Monmouth, Chepstow or Ross-on-Wye where at least they would get a decent return on their carparking charge.

I shop in Coleford and Lydney because it is economical as far as mileage is concerned. But if I am forced to pay I would prefer to leave the Forest to shop elsewhere. I believe many other motorists feel the same way and I hope they protest as I do.

The carparking charges will struggle to finance itself alone. Profits will be made from fines on motorists overstaying their time by accident, machine malfunctions and people hunting for change.

I have worked as a car park attendant and have witnessed the distress and dismay of the parking public. I?have been the recipient of verbal and physical abuse that is the inevitable outcome of parking charges and I totally abhor the introduction of them.

I sincerely hope that in the event of these parking charges being introduced the voting public have good memories and the councillors responsible are kicked out at the next local election.

– Ron Evans, St Briavels.