County councillors say blue badge holders should be charged to park in Monmouthshire, despite one member calling the charge "immoral". But members of Monmouthshire County Council's economy and development select committee say Sunday parking should continue to be free. The committee met on Monday (14th July) to make a list of recommendations to cabinet following a wide ranging review of council-owned car parks. Members approved a rise in car parking fees for both long stay and short stay car parks with charges of up to £8 for five hours hitting users of the short stay car park. Deputy leader Phil Hobson said the new charges had been tailored to suit different towns. "We had to identify certain and different types of users of each town in Monmouthshire," he said. "Each town has different needs, layouts and demands. Some charges have gone up, some will stay the same and some will go down." Charging for Blue Badge holders proved to be a controversial topic. Councillor Susan White believed charging the disabled was "immoral" and went against the principles of MCC. She said: "We have disabled people in Monmouthshire who go into town not for the pleasure, but because they need to. "Some have to go to the dentist or for a doctor's appointment. They are doing things they have to do and then go straight back home. "I've seen people struggle with wheelchairs as they are getting out of their cars. "I think it is so wrong to charge blue badge holders and I will go on saying it. "We said we'd look after vulnerable people in the county and I hope I can keep believing that." Councillor Kevin Williams said he couldn't support charging blue badge holders to park but believed disability doesn't always signify financial disadvantage. Charging for blue badge holders was eventually accepted by the committee, with councillors asking officers to carry out more work means testing. Parking on a Sunday would continue to be free after councillors voted against a £1 flat rate charge for MCC car parks. Councillors agreed a £1 charge should be introduced for Monmouth's Cinderhill Street car park and Rowing Club car park only when a free car park is made available on Rockfield Road. According to Roger Hoggins, head of operations for MCC, there will be a planning application submitted for a new free car park off Rockfield Road soon. It was agreed the income from the car park service should be used to fund development costs. Councillors were told Usk was very different to Monmouth and that charging for parking in the town would drive visitors away. Phillip Mungeam, president of Usk Chamber of Commerce, said: "Charging for parking is a rather emotive subject for all of us in Usk. "We don't need the charges and we don't want them. It is a money making exercise by the council as far as we can see. "If parking charges happen in Usk, people won't come to the town, they'll go elsewhere." It was agreed by MCC that negotiations should commence with Usk Town Council to transfer the ownership and management of the car parks to them. If this fails, a flat rate charge of £1 could be introduced. Cabinet will discuss the recommendations made by the committee at a later date. • David Cummings, Chairman of Monmouth and District Chamber of Trade and Commerce, said: "The chamber is sympathetic to the council's need to increase revenue if new car parks are to be built and facilities modernised. "However, what we strongly oppose is the way Monmouth will be the only town covered by the study where it will no longer be free to park.

"Chepstow and Abergavenny will have free parking periods, but all we are seemingly offered is eight 30-minute free spaces in Glendower Street car park, no more free parking in Drybridge Street car park and no more free parking in the Rowing Club car park, both of which which will now be charged at a rate of £1 per day. "This will be another cost to endure for shop workers in town on a minimum wage. "We are told that Usk Town Council fought a hard campaign to retain free parking (until at least 2016) at all times and the recommendation is for Usk residents, shoppers and business owners of off-road car parks, to continue with what is in effect a subsidy from the county council. "There will be businesses and residents in Monmouth who feel that as we are the only town which has to pay all day, every day, that we are subsidising this benefit enjoyed by Usk." He said the chamber was against the introduction of Sunday charging. "The chamber has encouraged businesses to open on Sundays and now with the relaxed atmosphere of no parking charges many businesses enjoy a good Sunday trade, which may be affected if a charge is imposed," he added. "It is important to stress that at the present time these are just recommendations, but if we do not make the case now that Monmouth is being seemingly singled out for particularly harsh treatment for users of our car parks having to pay all day, every day, everywhere, then in a few months it may be imposed upon us."