Businesses and residents in Usk are joining forces to fight proposals to introduce car parking charges in the town which they fear would have a devastating effect on trade and tourism.

The recently re-formed Chamber of Trade has called a public meeting at The Nag's Head on Monday March 17 at 5.30pm to discuss a plan of action and the issue was top of the agenda at a meeting of the town council earlier this week, where it was agreed to send a letter to MCC outlining the objections.

Mayor of Usk Councillor Alec Leathwood has dismissed the 'Monmouthshire Parking Study', produced for Monmouthshire County Council by global consultants Parsons Brinckerhoff, as 'not worth the paper it was written on'.

"The report talks about using parking charges to support economic growth and regeneration - which is totally inappropriate in a small town like Usk where shopping consists of small, independent traders whose businesses are already experiencing difficulties as a result of the general economic conditions," he said.

"Many people are already reluctant to shop in Bridge Street because of the danger presented by the large number of HGVs using the town as a short cut. If car parking charges are introduced here people will just drive straight on to Cwmbran.

"Some businesses would definitely close as a result and it would have a devastating effect on the whole community."

In his letter to MCC on behalf of Usk town council, he refers to the fact that Parsons Brinckerhoff claims to have consulted with town councils.

"This is not the case in respect of Usk. They did hold a public meeting in the town at which some individual councillors were present, but that is very different from consulting with the council," he said.

The car parks in Maryport Street North and South and the Town Square have 381 spaces.

"My understanding is that a charging regime for car parking cannot be introduced simply to raise revenue, but that there has to be a 'parking management need'," said councillor Leathwood.

"The consultants' report makes clear that the survey data shows that both Maryport Street North and South car parks have available capacity. So why introduce charging?

"The report also says there is no evidence of car sharing in these car parks - yet elsewhere it sites car sharing as a reason to introduce charging.

"There is also the issue of the number of tourists who come here. The report claims that Usk doesn't have many visitors - which is absolute nonsense.

"As the winner of Wales in Bloom competitions for 30 consecutive years we have become known as the 'town of flowers' and together with our winter and summer fairs we attracts thousands of visitors each year.

"Police estimates suggested that over 3,500 visitors came to Usk Christmas fair and Santa parade this year and the gardens open weekend attracts similar numbers. Hundreds of walkers and cyclists also visit the town throughout the year, particularly at weekends."

Councillor Leathwood also believes that a charging regime would move more vehicles from the town's car parks onto the streets - contrary to the consultants' stated aims.

"Local residents have to use the Maryport Street north car park to access the local GP surgeries and the waste disposal facility. In addition, MCC has recently given planning consent to the museum to build its main entrance in the car park, thereby encouraging more visitors, who when faced with car park charges are likely to park on the town's already crowded streets."

Another burning issue is that, if the proposals for car park charging were to get the go ahead, residents without private off-street parking would need to apply for on-street parking permits - including at weekends and in the evenings.

"The consultants have confirmed that, as no parking demand data was available for Usk, they have based their recommendations on using Monmouth's daily parking profile - a town several times larger than Usk with a very busy high street.

"Given all this I hold the view that the consultants' report is not worth the paper it was written on," said Councillor Leathwood.

The chairman of Usk Chamber of Trade is local hairdresser Phillip Mungeam.

He said that Monday's public meeting at the Nag's Head had been organised to discuss the next steps in the fight against the council's proposals

"Usk finds it hard to compete with market towns like Abergavenny and Monmouth and, in addition, with the wide range of retail outlets in Cwmbran and Newport where there is ample free parking," he said.

"We are trying to promote this town for trade and tourism - the last thing we need are negative steps like this."

Apart from the affect on visitors to the town, parking charges would have a huge impact on those living and working there, he said.

His own company Peruke Wigs, which fits wigs for cancer patients across Gwent, is made up of a team of ten who spend their working hours visiting clients.

"They are back and for to the car park here three or four times a day," he said.

"The proposed charging system is one of 'non-return' so, if I cover that expense for them, it's going to cost my small business around £9,000 a year extra."

He added, "Everyone here works hard for the town to flourish. There is great camaraderie and togetherness.

"The people from Parsons Brinckerhoff need to come here and see for themselves...

"We will go through their report bit by bit and pull out everything that is anecdotal and hit back with our own examples of where they are wrong.

"My motto is: 'Fail to prepare, prepare to fail'!".

In the late 1990s Usk council won a judicial review to stop the council from introducing parking charges. The 'rematch' between townsfolk and county council is likely to be just as feisty...