MOTORISTS will continue to pay to use the council car park in Mitcheldean until at least the summer after a bid to get charges removed immediately was quashed.

The ruling by the Forest of Dean Council's Cabinet angered opposition councillors who had won a debate on the issue at the full council in December.

Councillor Paul McMahon said the Cabinet was "disrespecting" the full council by not acting on the proposal.

The Cabinet decided to put off a decision until a district-wide assessment of the impact of parking charges on local businesses is carried out in July.

Leader of the council Councillor Patrick Molyneux said: "We should wait until July when we have the community impact assessment and we have the full facts before us."

Responding to charges that the full council was being ignored, Councillor Molyneux said the December motion was passed on the casting vote of the chairman but the earlier vote on having an impact assessment had gained widespread support.

The council had also spent £93,740 on the car park and toilets in Mitcheldean over the last five years.

The Cabinet heard that Newent Town Council had agreed to press for the same treatment as Mitcheldean if charges were removed.

Councillor McMahon said: "There was a democratic decision by full council to remove the charges immediately.

"You should honour that or you are disrespecting the council."

Mitcheldean councillor Ian Whitburn accused Councillor Molyneux of "ignoring councillors who are not in your party."

Councillor Whitburn said the car park served a small number of businesses and the charges had an effect on trade.

The leader said the charges covered the cost of running the car parks and that they were not high.

He added: "If you can afford to drive to a car park, 20p for an hour is not a burden."