Traders say Forest parking fee review will be 'too late'
TRADERS say a review of car parking charges in the Forest of Dean will come "too late" for many businesses.
At a meeting on Thursday night, the district council agreed to carry out a review of the impact – but not until July when 12-month figures will be available.
Yesterday Sheila Taylor, who runs Rainbow Mind, Body & Spirit shop in Lydney, said: "My business will have gone by then.
"I have lost 50 per cent of trade in three months and will probably be shut by Christmas.
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"It's entirely down to the parking charges."
Controversy has reigned since the charges were introduced earlier this year and opponents have continued to rail against them.
Campaigners from Hands Off Our Towns (Hoot) protested outside the council offices in Coleford ahead of the meeting.
Inside, councillors and members of the public challenged the ruling Conservatives over the "devastating" effect it was having on businesses.
A motion was put forward by opposition Labour councillor, Paul McMahon, for an immediate community impact assessment to be undertaken.
He said: "Raising revenue shouldn't be about destroying people's lives and their businesses."
He said evidence could be quickly gathered by the street wardens.
But council leader Patrick Molyneaux said that was a "wholly inadequate approach" and, if done, the review would need to be carried out by professionals and look at facts and figures.
He questioned whether traders would be willing to open their books to show evidence of falling trade.
Debate raged for more than 45 minutes before it was agreed by a majority to undertake an assessment in July.
Comments
by forester_girl
Thursday, October 25 2012, 11:55AM
“Finally Farmers Boy! Someone sees what I am saying. Nobody wants her and her daughters 'business' here, it was failing long before the parking charges came in. It's not providing a useful service and yes, there is the free car park right outside her shop. Lydney doesn't need crystals and talks with the dead. It needs a town centre people can use!”
by Farmers_Boy
Wednesday, October 17 2012, 7:19AM
“Why is the person at Rainbow complaining. There is carpark by her unit and free parking end of swan road.The fact is ***oby wants her service and no one uses Lydney indoor market.How many as been a nd gone in there ?? LOADS. So dont blame council for car park charges.”
by Douglasknows
Sunday, October 14 2012, 11:27AM
“The review,when it happens, could have wide reaching effects on other forest towns. It will be interesting to find out if the parking charges are the cause of shops closing or if they are having little or no effect. The only way to be sure would be a head count of shops that have gone bust and an audit of those shops left to see if there has been an impact on their takings.”
by forester_girl
Sunday, October 14 2012, 10:10AM
“Why can't and don't we ever hear how proper traders are doing? I've heard no complaints from hair dressers, butchers, card shops, florists... The ones who run stores our towns actually NEED! Not fads of make believe fairys and a crazy lady who believes she can hear from the dead!”
by Bonkim2003
Saturday, October 13 2012, 10:52AM
“There is no opposition in the council - it is all a farce.”