Council to consult on cutting car park fees
PARKING your car could be about to get cheaper in Rhondda Cynon Taff.
Plans to reduce parking charges across the borough’s car parks have been unveiled by RCT Council.
Under the new proposals, the price of a onehour stay will drop from 75p to 50p.
And annual permits will be cut in price from £375 to £200, while free Christmas parking after 10am would become a permanent feature every festive season.
Shoppers, business owners and residents are being invited to have their say on plans to reduce short stay, long stay and season parking charges.
A six-week consultation period will begin shortly.
Council Leader Andrew Morgan said: “Earlier this year I met with a number of traders from our town centres to discuss car parking. This was a constructive meeting in which a commitment was given to review our car park charging arrangements.
“The six week consultation, which will begin shortly, outlines proposals to amend our current charges is in response to this meeting.
“We have taken on board what we were told at the meeting and have come up with proposals which could see our existing policy amended as far as possible, when taking into account the continuing impact of austerity and the pressure consequently being applied to council budgets.
“In recent years, the boom in online shopping and out-of-town retail parks has led to a reduction in footfall and trade in town centres across the UK.
“Locally, the council has worked with town centre forums and business owners to provide a range of support; including town centre events and free festive parking throughout December.
“We have also frozen car park charges as part of the last three budgets, despite needing to make savings in excess of £100m since 2011, and we continue to invest in the regeneration of our town and village centres following investments. In addition to this, the Welsh Government’s Small Business Rate Relief Scheme has provided a boost for traders with many town centre businesses now either paying nothing or a reduced amount in terms of business rates.
“The proposals we are consulting on would, if implemented, include a reduction to 50p for a one hour stay in a short stay car parks and a £1, all-day charge on a Saturday in our long stay car parks to encourage more visitors to park and shop, eat and drink in our diverse range of town centres.
“To support people who work in our town centres, we are also proposing a reduction from £375 to £200 for the cost of a yearly parking permit – a saving of £175.
“The consultation will inform a future formal decision of Cabinet to review car parking charges once all views have been taken on board.”
A six week consultation process will begin shortly and will include direct engagement with traders and shoppers in the five town centres with pay and display car parks: Pontypridd, Aberdare, Mountain Ash, Tonypandy and Porth.
Residents will also be able to have their say via a survey on the council’s website www.rctcbc.gov. uk which will also be promoted on social media.