THE CONSERVATIVE leader on Stroud District Council has stated he is against suggestions of introducing and increasing car park charges calling the idea ‘madness’.

SDC recently announced a review which could see charges brought in at free sites and price hikes introduced elsewhere.

Nothing has been approved yet and there will be consultation with the public and councils.

Cllr Nigel Cooper, leader of the Conservative group at SDC, said: "This idea is madness, if town centres are to survive we need to encourage people to go there by imaginatively varying the parking charges, not increasing them.

“We all know the council's finances are stretched at the moment, but this should be addressed by reducing staff costs, reviewing unnecessary services, and abandoning the various vanity schemes that are a waste of money.

“Certainly not piling even more costs onto the long suffering tax payer."

Most of the 38 SDC-run car parks, such as Nailsworth and Minchinhampton, are free while some, such as Stonehouse, have low charges of 20p per hour.

SDC leader Steve Lydon said a consultation was due soon.

“We’re currently reviewing our existing car park charges and we will undertake a full district-wide parking review in the next six months, which will include appropriate consultation."