VALE Road car park should always remain free, according to a former Stourport Urban District councillor, who claimed there was an agreement that no charges should be added.

Roy Crowe, who served on the council for 30 years, said he remembered the car park was always designated as a free one, as it was donated to the town by Robert Vale.

His claim was made after it was reported in last week’s Shuttle that Conservative councillor, Marcus Hart, the district council’s cabinet member for housing and environmental services, said it was a “rumour” and “myth” that the car park was donated by the Vale family.

The district council plans to introduce charges on the car park, used by Vale Road and Mitton Gardens residents, from next month. More than 220 angry residents have signed an online petition against the proposal.

Mr Hart added that the car park was purchased by Stourport Urban District Council for the full market value and was then passed down to the Wyre Forest authority when it was formed in 1974 but Mr Crowe said it was always designated as a free car park.

“Councillor Hart is so wrong,” said Mr Crowe.“Robert Vale was the one who gave the ground to the council. I remember us doing work on the car park and it was pointed out to us by the town clerk that we couldn’t recoup the expenses because it had to remain free. As far as I’m concerned, it was always designated as a free car park.”

Mr Crowe, who was appointed to the former urban district council in 1966 as a Conser-vative councillor, said there was an agreement, whether written or gentleman’s, that the car park should remain free.

He added: “I was presented with information at council meetings to say that the car park was supposed to be made free so everyone was under no illusion. There was a strong agreement that it remains a free car park.

“It was in 1946 and 1947 that the gift was made so why did the urban district council maintain it as a free car park up until 1974 and why has Wyre Forest District Council maintained it as a free car park for 36 years if it was not to honour the agreement?

“I feel strongly that because of the history of the car park there’s no way Wyre Forest District Council should apply charges.”

The former Stourport Mayor explained: “Robert Vale was a great benefactor for Stourport. He was also an urban district councillor for many many years and made lots of gifts to the town council and to the people.”

Wyre Forest MP, Mark Garnier, said although he was not backing the residents’ campaign, he was sympathetic to their plight.

“I sympathise with everyone who is being affected by [parking],” he said.