Monmouthshire Car Parking Charges: German supports 'call-in'

11.41.49am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 23rd Aug 2005

An appeal for Assembly Members to support calls to Call -In the controversial car parking policy of Monmouthshire County Council received a boost today. A senior Assembly Member added his voice for calls that the issue should be debated by all 43 county councillors, not left to nine members of the Conservative cabinet.

Local Welsh Liberal Democrat area AM, Michael German, said: "Previous 'call-ins' heard by the council committees have resulted in large issues affecting Monmouthshire being sent to full council for all county councillors to represent their constituents concerns."

"It would seem right and proper that the Car Parking issue which has generated such widespread public and business opposition, whilst also uniting every town in Monmouthshire in common cause, should be debated by all the county councillors, not jut the nine member of cabinet."

Previous 'call-ins' have seen the future of Abergavenny Cattle Market and Primary School closures recently being debated by the full council. However, issues such as Car Parking in Monmouth and transport charges for post-16 education were blocked, denying county councillors the chance to overturn cabinet decisions.

The Call-In over Car Parking charges was sponsored by Cllr. Phil Hobson (Chepstow, Larkfield), leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition, Cllr. Douglas Edwards (Abergavenny, Grofield), Cllr. Ron Stewart (Caldicot Castle) and Cllr. James Harris (Caldicot, West End).

The Conservatives want to introduce car parking charges

It is expected that the Call-In request will be heard by the Environment Select Committee in early September.