COLEFORD in the Forest of Dean is a small market town trying to survive in this harsh economic climate and contrary to helping the many small shops and businesses in the town our district council seems hell bent on turning it into a ghost town.

The first nail in the coffin of Coleford, and probably a few other Forest towns, is the introduction of parking charges which will drive a lot of people away.

Historically the council seems to have given approval to only a few types of shops/businesses and this has meant that there is no variety in the town. I know that other nearby towns charge for parking but, if you have a diverse selection of shops etc. to visit, paying a nominal charge is acceptable.

A straw poll of local shopkeepers has shown that all those asked are against the move and are fearful for their survival. An on-spec survey of customers in my shop has returned that a lot of passing trade would be lost as people would rather travel to somewhere with free parking even if it costs more in fuel than just "popping" into Coleford.

The other consideration is that the only parking available to visit the doctors' surgery would also be 'Pay and Display' making doctor visits time limited/dependent.

These charges were imposed even though all the so-called 'Public Meetings' were wholeheartedly against them.

As a small shopkeeper in Coleford I feel that the charges will not generate as much revenue as needed as the car parks will not be used sufficiently and there might even be a loss in revenue when some small businesses close.

The only sign of any regeneration in Coleford over the last years has been the proposed application by Tesco to open a new purpose-built store in the town. This development has created, perversely, a lot of local approval, even amongst some local shopkeepers, and would have given, at least a little, variety to the available establishments in Coleford.

The latest design, although modern and aesthetically pleasing, was refused planning by the district council as being out of character with the town. There are other, much more obtrusive structures, which have been approved.

The refusal of this project is a great blow for jobs in this area of high unemployment. Jobs would be created not only during construction, but afterwards in Tesco itself.

The district council seems to have ridden rough-shod over the wishes of both the town council and a lot of the local residents and businesses.

Isn't it about time that councillors took notice of the people that elected them, otherwise they will find themselves on the ever-lengthening list of the unemployed.

– Claire Hilgart, Coleford Computers.