THE councillor whose brief includes parking fees in Forest Council car parks has been accused of living in a "parallel universe" after he made a robust defence of the charges.

The jibe at deputy leader of the council, Cllr Brian Robinson (Con, Mitcheldean) was made by Cllr Paul McMahon (Lab, Coleford East) who had asked for a breakdown of income for individual car parks.

Later in last Thursday's full council meeting – despite the disagreement on charges in council-run car parks – councillors of all parties came together to agree the Forestry Commission be asked to make greater concessions for Forest residents in its car parks.

On the issue of council-run car parks, Cllr Robinson said the net cost of running each car park was not available for individual car parks.

But Cllr McMahon claimed income in Coleford fell by 27 per cent between July 2012 and March 2013 – the period after the introduction of charges – and the income for Redbrook during the same time equated to just £9 a week.

He said: "This is a clear example of a failing stealth tax imposed on Foresters."

Cllr Robinson said: "We had an income of £132,000 and a net surplus of £5,800. "That means we have spent £132,000 less on managing our car parks than had they been free.

"That shows from a financial point of view the car parks have been very successful because it enabled us to freeze council tax, enabled us to keep the cost of running this council down and made sure the burden of paying for the car parks is passed to the people who use them."

At that point Cllr McMahon accused him of "living in a parallel universe" for which he was ticked off by chair of the council Cllr Jane Horne (Con, Tibberton).

A motion by Cllr Max Coborn (Lab, Cinderford) had councillors discussing the £3.50 charge to park in Foresty Commission car parks.

He initially suggested a £5 residents' permit but that was changed to a free permit after it emerged that residents of the New Forest do not pay to park on Commission land.

After a convoluted debate about whether the Commission would accept a request for free parking it was agreed to start negotiations on a special rate for residents.