I AM angered at the go-ahead of the parking charges and even more angered at the reasons stated in the 'Statement of Reasons' document.

Upon reading I cannot help but conclude that the district council do not want the worker parking in the car park.

A reduction in car use would mean using the bus, bicycle, walking or as they suggest, car sharing. The bus is expensive, in my particular case, £2.30 a day just the short distance from Berry Hill. This would be on top of vehicle expenses such as tax and insurance. These I would still have to pay even if I used the car less. As regards to using a bicycle or walking, do they expect people to cycle or walk in the rain and then sit in wet clothes at work? Do they expect women to cycle and walk alone in the dark through the winter. Some areas are too far to cycle or walk or do not have regular or any bus service at all.

How can car sharing have less impact on the environment if we then start having to drive around the area picking each other up? Car sharing may work for those working in cities but is not practical or feasible in a rural area such as this.

Regarding the increase in turnover of spaces, who do they think is just parking in town for the sake of it? Do they really think shoppers, tourists and visitors are the only ones spending money in town? Who do they think shop before and after work, who buys their lunch and use cafes and wanders around the shops in their lunch breaks.

Regarding 'you use it, you pay for it', how many areas does our council tax cover that not everyone uses? If we do not use, can we have a reduction in our council tax.

I am surprised that it costs £163,000 to run the car parks, I have seen very little evidence of maintenance over the years in Coleford. I understand the cost spread over everyone's council tax would be pence, therefore surely it is fairer for more people to pay pence rather than some to pay hundreds of pounds.

I am also angered that council workers will not be paying to park. In paying for ourselves and seemingly subsidising those who work for the council, we feel we are paying twice.

The timing of the introduction of parking charges is ill-conceived. A recent news report reinforced this, indicating that one in four working people in the Forest of Dean are under pressure financially. While not all those work in the Forest of Dean, I would think that some do. So this extra tax levy (because that is what it is in all but name) is not well timed or indeed welcome.

– Angry motorist, Berry Hill.