While another, Richard Hathaway added: “They just don’t know how to stop the Greed, Just kill everything off in the forest.”
But at the town’s The Real Deal discount shop, Nicki Glover told the Express the area had “had it good” with parking for so long, but did say the increases would hit businesses.
She said: “It will possibly have an impact when it comes in, but to be honest this is going to bring us in line with the rest of the country.
“Initially I think it will have an impact on trade, but hopefully it won’t last long, previously we were paying 50p for the first hour which is pretty much unheard of in the rest of the country.”
In response to criticism, Forest of Dean District Council said it had to “drive down costs”, amid funding cuts.
A council spokesman said: “In the current difficult and uncertain national funding situation, the cabinet’s financial strategy remains to drive down the council’s costs whilst maximising opportunities to realise additional ongoing revenue income.”
Forest of Dean District Council is hoping the new measures reduce car travel in the town and increase revenue by 200 percent.
A public consultation on plans has been undertaken, with a decision set to be made by Thursday, February 22.
