TRADERS, shoppers, residents and people who work in Abergavenny have registered their opposition to Monmouthshire County Council's controversial plan to introduce charges to free car parks in the county. Approximately 10,000 signatures were collected as part of Abergavenny Chamber of Trade's car parking petition against the proposals. The petition was circulated around most shops in Abergavenny town centre and objected to, "the doubling of car parking charges; the doing away with free car parking facilities at Byefield Lane and the removal of the £1 overstay facilities where fines will be levied." Under plans revealed by Monmouthshire County Council in its recent budget a number of free car parks set aside for workers could attract parking charges if the cabinet give the controversial scheme the green light at a meeting on August 10. The county council's cabinet blames a lack of funding from the Welsh Assembly for the need of the controversial plan and a 28 day consultation period regarding the issue started on July 6. Since then representatives of Abergavenny Chamber of Trade have met with counterparts throughout the county as well as local politicians including David Davies MP, for advice and to help them form an effective opposition to the plans. Last week President of the Chamber of Trade Andy Hinksman and Vice President Richard Gafney presented the petition and had a half hour meeting with the leader of Monmouthshire County Council, Councillor Andrew Crump and the cabinet member for Highways Councillor John Harrhy. President of Abergavenny Chamber of Trade Andy Hinksman said he had "grave concerns" over the current proposals but was "optimistic" following the meeting. "Both councillors said they appreciated what we were saying and listened to our concerns and explained the reasons behind the plans - the lack of funding from the Welsh Assembly," he said. "I think it's interesting that it doesn't cost Monmouthshire County Council employees anything at all to park at County Hall." Mr Hinksman, who owns the Classic Phones Company in Cross Street, employs three full time staff and two part time staff, two of whom use Byefield Car Park on a daily basis which currently costs them £1 per week or £52 per year. Under the latest proposals Mr Hinksman said this would rise to £6 per week for his staff - a total of £312 every year. "As you can see this will be a substantial cut in their income as a direct result of having to pay more to attend work. "Arguably a pay cut will put further pressure on myself as an employer to cover these costs. "I implore the cabinet to see sense and come up with another way so that the workers of Abergavenny do not bare the brunt of the shortfall within the authority's budget. "There must be another way of resolving this issue and I have asked the cabinet to reconsider their proposals regarding car parking charges in the town and to come up with an alternative solution to suit all parties concerned." Mr Hinksman thanked everybody who supported the petition and said, "It shows the strength of feeling in the town against the scheme and the chamber haven't come across anybody who supports the scheme in any way. "This is a crucial issue which affects the future of the town and I would urge all traders, shoppers and everybody from Abergavenny to visit the council's web site and email their objections to the scheme. "Let's hope that the cabinet listen to the nearly 10,000 people who signed the petition."
