IN?reply GJD, councillor for Tidenham, I must refute his statement. It is not just a few complaining about parking charges, there are a host of shopkeepers, elderly, young and frustrated people who are annoyed at this money-spinning venture. We will not shut up, so get used to it.

You use the car parks in Chepstow. Some people say you should stay there.

When you attend council meetings in Coleford no doubt you have the privilege of parking free in the council car park. Aren't you the lucky one!

You and the other 21 councillors believe you have done a very good job, giving yourselves a pat on the back, but this will not help the people of the Forest who are stretched in the economic climate. In my opinion I believe you are all guilty of treating these 'whiners', as you call them, with contempt.

Do not congratulate yourselves on introducing these charges. We, who elected you, will remember this appalling injustice. Everybody knows these charges will quadruple in two or three year's time. You all ignored us.

We have four small towns in the Forest and workers and residents cannot afford these charges you lot have foisted on us. You mention Monmouth and Chepstow. These are much larger towns and are much busier. There is a different economic climate in the Forest. Apart from that Monmouth has more car parks and the Main Street has more on-street parking than all four Forest towns put together.

It would be nice if more visitors came to the Forest but I suspect that parking charges will put them off. Places like the Cotswolds get thousands of visitors a year so therefore you would expect to pay for parking.

Last Sunday I went to Redbrook at 12 noon. Only four cars were in the car park and, let's not forget, you have to pay for Sunday parking here.

We are not happy with the way you lot take no notice of the people who elected you and we will not forget what you have done. The letters will continue and we will not shut up, so get used to it.

– M Ovett, Coleford.