Councillor Chris Bartrum spent Saturday on the streets of Ross asking local shoppers and visitors to the town to sign his petition protesting against the increases in parking charges in the town's car parks.

Herefordshire Council has announced a raft of increases which will come into force in November and includes charging for parking on a Sunday for the first time.

In just a few hours Cllr Batrum gathered 147 signatures and placed the petition in six shops in the town where the traders support his actions. He has also started an online petition which is gathering momentum.

On Monday, September 12th Cllr Bartrum will be asking fellow Ross Town Councillors to write to Herefordshire Council about the way parking charges have been increased.

Cllr Bartrum is incensed that the County Council, of which he is also a Councillor, is proposing to introduce 'increases in car parking charges in Ross-on-Wye, which in some cases are in excess of 100%, without any public consultation."

He also told the Ross Gazette that it will be detrimental to traders if the plan to charge for parking on Sundays is carried out.

Cllr Bartrum has proposed a notice of motion regarding the parking charges which will be discussed at the next meeting of Ross Town Council, on Monday, September 12th.

He said that he is concerned that implementing "substantial increases in parking charges for cars and coaches, including introducing charges on Sundays....may deter motorists from shopping in Ross."

He added that he had taken note of the current economic difficulties of the town and commended the energetic and imaginative response from traders to promote shopping in the town."

He will suggest that the Planning and Sustainable Development Committee develops a set of proposals to improve the parking situation in Ross which will be discussed with RoWToP, residents and traders and then put to Herefordshire Council.Shoppers who wish to sign Councillor Bartrum's petition online should visit http://www.eddecross.co.uk">www.eddecross.co.uk