TRADERS in Monmouth have won their battle to persuade the County Council not to increase car parking charges, The Beacon can reveal.

Counc Phil Murphy, who is a member of the County Cabinet, has revealed the decision to scrap the proposed increases.

He said "In view of other representations, the Cabinet has decided not to pursue the car park charges increase.

"Instead, further research will be carried out to see if , by re-visiting the traffic management issues, we can find a better way of going forward".

The decision follows concern by Monmouth and District Chamber of Trade and Commerce about the new measures on car parking.

David Cummings, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce commented in a letter to the County Coucil "We are dismayed to hear that serious consideration is being given to proposals to raise the parking charges in County Council car parks in the county by 10 per cent and to revisit the idea of abolishing free parking in those few Council car parks where currently no charge is made".

He added: "The Chamber believes that during the current economic downturn that this would give entirely the wrong message to those shoppers using the car parks of Monmouth".

Referring to the current free parking in Cinderhill Street, he said the car park provided low paid shop workers with an important facility.

"We urgently request therefore that the County Council in its attempts to balance the 2009/10 Budget, discount the options of increasing Pay and Display car park charges and raising charges on free car parks for this coming financial year" the letter added.

Mr Cummings told The Beacon on Monday "We are delighted with the County Council's decision.

"We are aware that representations were made not only by the Chamber but also by other bodies and individuals.

"The County is right not to increase current parking charges and not to impose charges on free car parks".