Free parking for Mountain Ash... but not Aberdare
Town’s car parks set for shake-up:
PARKING in Mountain Ash town centre will soon be free, while Aberdare’s car parks are about to become significantly cheaper.
The decision by Rhondda Cynon Taf council’s cabinet members has been announced following a sixweek public consultation during November and December on parking prices.
Last week, we reported that the prices were likely to tumble after a report, based on the consultation responses, said more than 70% of people agreed to proposed changes to council-owned car parks – which included 50p short stays of one hour (down from 75p) and £1 two-hour stays (from £1.50).
Long stays were recommended to be reduced from £2.50 to £2, monthly permits from £37.50 to £20 and annual permits cut by almost half, from £375 to £200.
And cabinet members have decided to implement those changes for Aberdare and Pontypridd – while going a step further for Porth, Tonypandy and Mountain Ash, where council car parks will soon become free.
Council leader Andrew Morgan said: “The move seeks to support our town centres as much as we practically can in this dif- ficult economic climate, to ensure the right retail environment is provided to encourage local residents to choose their local high street.
“I hope the balance we have struck between managing car parking and supporting our local high streets will be recognised by those who have constructively engaged in the consultation process.
“Car parking charges are often a controversial issue and deciding upon the right arrangement is hugely important to ensure parking is available for shoppers through the course of the day in our larger town centres.
“During the meetings and discussions I have held with traders directly, many pointed to the fact that the smaller town centres in Rhondda Cynon Taff required different arrangements because of their individual circumstances which are different to those of Pontypridd and Aberdare.
“It was on this basis that we arrived at the decision to introduce free parking arrangements in these towns.”
The council hopes the reductions will encourage people to shop locally in Aberdare and Pontypridd, especially during weekends, with a £1 all-day Saturday charge.
Coun Morgan added: “While the package of changes we have agreed today will result in a significant reduction in income from car parking for the council, cabinet were of the view that the assistance these changes will hopefully offer to our town centres, in this very difficult trading environment, outweighed the financial pressure this move inevitably creates on the council budget as a whole.”
Jim Bradley, honorary president of the Aberdare Business and Tourism Association (ABTA), says the group has been pushing for the changes for some time.
He said: “We congratulate RCT on reducing the charges and I would draw the attention of businesses in town to the reduction in monthly and annual charges for their staff.
“ABTA will continue to press for equality with supermarkets and retail parks in that free controlled parking is the only fair charge however we have succeeded after many years in persuading our council that increasing charges only deters custom from the town centre.”