There are only days left to respond to the Forest of Dean District Council’s budget consultation – and all residents should take the opportunity to have their say.
As you can see below, the council (which is led by the Green Party, with the support of Labour councillors) are proposing to hike the price of a 2-hour parking ticket by 300%, and a 4-hour+ ticket by 150%.
Needless to say, I don’t support these proposals, and have made that very clear to the council. They will be a hammer-blow to many Forest businesses, driving people away from our town centres and could actually cut the money the council receives if they force drivers to park elsewhere like on nearby private roads.
This is what we get when Green and Labour politicians run our District Council, teaming up to target the poorest motorists.
Conservatives in the Forest of Dean are united in our opposition to these terrible proposals, as explained by Cllr Clayton Williams, Leader of the Conservative Group on the Forest of Dean District Council:
“It is very disappointing to see such a large increase in car parking charges being proposed by the Green and Labour-run council. This will push people away from our market towns. That is bad for council taxpayers and bad for our High Street.”
Surprisingly the council’s press release doesn’t refer to the increase, but it does suggest any resident with concerns emails section.151@fdean.gov.uk with their views before the 19 January. I would strongly encourage all constituents to have their say.
The proposal comes days after the council leader called for mandatory 20mph zones across the Forest of Dean and follows on from Labour imposing similar measures right across Wales, and Labour in Monmouth floating the prospect of bringing back Severn Bridge tolls.
Wherever Green or Labour politicians run things, we see a campaign against people using their cars that is unfair and unrealistic – particularly for rural areas like the Forest of Dean. The District Council’s leadership should reconsider this.