LEADING community members in Mitcheldean are uniting to fight against local parking charges which they say are being "pushed through" by the Forest council's cabinet.

Traders, parish councillors, district councillors and local residents have joined forces in the protest. "The democratic process has not worked", said a spokesman for the 'Fight the Charges' group.

"Everyone has objected to this proposal, and the traders will be severely affected. All the cabinet seem to care about is they can say they haven't put up the council tax."

Suggestions by cabinet members that charging is necessary to reduce congestion in Mitcheldean's car park are "a cloak to cover a money-raising proposal", as other options have been rejected.

The group says selling annual season tickets to residents and workers will actually guarantee there will be less space for shoppers.

"All this is happening in one of the smallest public car parks in the Forest, with small local businesses already facing the threat of free car parking at a new Asda supermarket in nearby Cinderford," said the spokesman.

Parish council members have written to the Forest of Dean District Council asking for clear figures to support the need for parking charges, but the spokesman said there had been no response so far.

"The Freedom of Information Act will now need to be used to find out why a small number of people are making far-reaching decisions that could destroy village businesses," the spokesman added.

Some 97 per cent of local residents responding to a recent parish survey objected to the car parking charges as proposed.

Shoppers, visitors, library users and GP surgery patients, who would all have to pay to park, are being urged to sign a petition available in Mitcheldean shops to urge the District Council cabinet to think again.