COUNCIL chiefs will be warned tonight that they are likely to face a legal challenge unless they scrap plans to bring in car parking fees.

Councillors will be presented with a petition with well over 7,000 names calling for further debate.

And Lydney town clerk Jayne Smailes will tell them that three town councils – Lydney, Coleford and Cinderford – believe they are acting illegally.

She will make a joint plea on behalf of all three for the Conservative led Cabinet to ditch the proposals.

Court action could be the only way to halt the charges due to come into force in July next year.

Even if the majority of councillors at tonight's meeting decide the Cabinet was wrong, they are virtually powerless to stop the charges.

The town councils are now talking to campaigners in Cirencester who have appointed a barrister and threatened Cotswold District Council with a judicial review.

They argue that it is illegal for councils to raise revenue through car parking fees and claim the district is using the money to plug a hole in the budget rather than merely cover maintenance costs.

Ms Smailes is confident Forest towns will "seek to mirror" Cirencester.

A legal battle could also be brewing in over the ownership of Newerne Street car park in Lydney.