I AM a very concerned shopkeeper in the lovely town of Coleford. My family have been in business in Coleford for 24 years. We have all worked very, very hard to build up our business sometimes working 18 hours a day.

What on earth were the district council thinking of when they decided to bring in civil enforcement officers and car parking charges to a small town?

I cannot understand why or who thought up this insane idea.

If the council hadn't wasted so much money in the first place none of this uproar and heartache would be necessary. The public and shopkeepers will not benefit from this. You will.

It will cost me to park my car and my dad's delivery vehicles £80 a month to park in Coleford. That's my week's rent gone.

I cannot put my prices up any further as, have you noticed, we care in a recession. We are all specialised shops in the town centre and people need to park. I can see people going off and getting everything under one roof and not bothering with us.

I rely on passing trade to make a living. People like to browse but if they've got to worry about getting a parking ticket or going over ticket-time then they won't bother. Watch this space.

Where are our elected district councillors? Nowhere to be seen! I approach one a while ago after yet another parking for unloading and loading my stock, only to be told "Well you shouldn't be parking there."

To this I replied "When is it time for you to be re-elected don't come along to my shop and ask for my vote because you will be shown the door."

I have very little faith in the district council. They just don't want to know.

Our own town council are always there to help when approach. May I take this opportunity to thank our mayor Sue Merrikin who at least gets down and gets the job done. We are very lucky to have her to fight our corner and make us stand-up and be heard.

Come on Coleford. I can't fight this battle alone. Keep us a market town and not a ghost town.

– Concerned shopkeeper.