Free parking trial for town
YOU’LL soon be able to park for free for two hours in Bridgend town centre as part of a trial scheme. It’s hoped the move will help boost town centre trade.
TWO hours free parking in Bridgend town centre is set to be trialled for six months.
The proposal, which was due to be approved by the county council’s cabinet on Tuesday, aims to boost trade.
A report presented to members said a £131,000 slice of a £3m Welsh Government grant for pilots like this across Wales, would support the first-two-hours-free scheme until March.
Group manager highways Kevin Mulcahy said the concession would be available at the new Rhiw car park from this summer.
He said: “This promo- tion is proposed to be targeted at the Rhiw multistorey car park in Bridgend town centre because of its proximity to town centre traders, which means that it is the most obvious place to focus a limited parking campaign.
“The car park has also not been used as much as anticipated since its opening in autumn 2016, in part because building work on the residential development adjacent to the car park is ongoing and has caused some disruption to car park users.
“This work is however due to be completed during this summer.
“Additionally the ‘pay on foot’ parking system at this car park lends itself more readily to making the changes necessary for the pilot period.
“It is important to recognise that the reason the council is able to make this provision is that the funding provided by Welsh Government is over and above our normal financial annual settlement, and for one year only, and therefore the council are unable to extend this offer beyond March 2018 or extend the offer to other car parks elsewhere in the county borough.”