Parking charges set to go up in bid to raise £400,000

PARKING charges in Gwynedd look set to rise in a council bid to generate more cash.

Cash-strapped county leaders say they’ll keep price hikes to a minimum and are considering a number of other options to raise an extra £400,000 over the next four years.

Other ideas on the table include introducing electronic payment meters and seeing if community groups might take over the running of municipal car parks.

As part of the budget planning for 2019-20, it had been considered that the council could scrap free Christmas parking in a bid to save £45,000, but the report confirms this plan of action is no longer on the cards.

Despite this, councillors will also be tasked with trying to balance the books while keeping the cost as low as possible. A report states: “The cabinet and the council’s resolution also required us to consider if it is possible to keep the cost of parking for Gwynedd residents at the same rate or even lower. This means that detailed work is required to establish what type of arrangements can be introduced in order to try and realise this aspiration.”

It adds: “Evidently this is a complex field where it will be necessary to analyse financial details together with the various options as well as considering the practicalities of the different management arrangements. It is considered that it would be useful to be able to set aside extended time if we want to ensure that this work is undertaken thoroughly and therefore the committee is requested to identify members to assist with this work in the form of a scrutiny working group.”

Members unanimously approved setting up a working group.

The options on the table are:

● Increasing parking fees

● Amending criteria so more free car parks become pay and display

● Introducing pay and display arrangements in car parks managed by other council departments

● Introduce more card “chip and pin” pay machines

● Transferring free car parks to be managed by the community

● Considering installing number plate detection cameras in some car parks to release officers for enforcement work in other car parks.