THE Welsh Assembly was criticised at Abergavenny Town Council's last meeting.
Councillor Douglas Edwards expressed his concern of the proposals by Monmouthshire County Council to balance its budget next year.
He criticised the assembly for its "lack of concern" for the county's financial problems.
He said, "The poor annual settlement continues and once again Monmouthshire's will be £21million below the Welsh average.
"There is a need for £200million to finance the major capital pressures, which includes £81million to complete the primary schools review and the need to rebuild or update our secondary schools, £51million to put our roads in good order, also included is £18million to finance a new County Hall. This has become a shock as four years ago we agreed our share of the sale proceeds of the existing County Hall would pay for a replacement building and would be cost neutral. To borrow the £18million over 40 years could cost council tax payers £60million after interest, its no wonder our proposed council tax increase will be about 4.95 percent.
"To balance the revenue account the council is to go out for consultation and amongst their proposals is to increase car parking charges by 10 percent, a figure in excess of 50 percent is Abergavenny's contribution to the total car parking charges of the county. When will the conservatives understand it is free to park in Cwmbran, Brynmawr and Ebbw Vale. It is not fair to local traders in the town who pay high business rates and see the local authority once again increase car parking charges in a time of severe international financial stress.