BUSINESS leaders and mayors are preparing to battle revived plans to charge for parking.

Forest of Dean District Council's cabinet has announced it will consider introducing charges in its main car parks when it meets on September 8.

Three years ago, The Forester's 'Keep It Free' campaign forced the council cabinet to put its plans on ice. Council chiefs say they put off charging in 2008 because of the recession.

Don Burgess, chairman of the Forest of Dean Federation of Small Businesses said: "We're deeper into the recession now, and charging to park could kill small businesses off. With Tesco coming to Coleford and providing free parking for its store, it seems the council wants to help a big corporation at the expense of independent businesses.

"It's a completely retrograde step."

See this week's Forester for the full story.