Is this the end of free parking?
Charges could go up by 20% and county’s free parking could be scrapped as cash-strapped council looks to make savings
PARKING charges across Conwy could rise by as much as 20% and free parking could be scrapped on Colwyn Bay promenade and other areas in the county as the cash-strapped council tries to raise money.
Free parking during the festive period could also come to an end as the highways department seeks savings of £1.25 million.
Charges for the Marine Drive toll road on Llandudno’s Great Orme could also increase from £4.50 to £5.50 for minibuses, from £2.50 to £3 for cars, and from £1 to £1.50 for motorbikes.
The scrutiny committee supported the recommendations in the report but also went a step further.
They requested a study to look at the feasibility of a controlled parking zone on Colwyn Bay Promenade be expanded to include other areas in the county where such zones could be introduced.
The local authority currently operates 20 pay and display car parks, two pay and display car parks on behalf of other services (Venue Cymru and Great
Orme Summit), and 18 free car parks-which could be possibly changed into pay and display’s.
Colwyn Bay Cllr Abdul Khan said: “Charging on Colwyn Bay promenade is just the wrong thing to do, it will discourage people to come the area, after we have spent millions trying to attract them!
“I think the Colwyn Bay and Rhos on Sea councillors will fight this.
“And anyway the cost of setting it up, and having to employ more traffic wardens will mean it will take years to make any money.”
The committee supported the scrapping of free parking during the Christmas period. At present, shoppers can park for free after 3pm in the authority’s car parks in the weeks before Christmas.
Toby Tunstall, chairman of Conwy’s Chamber of Trade, said: “This is extremely short-sighted and will affect tourism if it goes through.
“They should be looking at this in a totally different way. There should be free parking all day on the run-up to Christmas and then the local economy would be boosted.
“Visitors to the area are always worried about getting back to their cars before their time is up, and I’ve long suggested they should introduce pay-on-exit car parks.”
The council says there has been no increase in parking charges since 2008, and that increased parking charges could contribute an extra £200,000 per year. For an hour’s parking, Conwy Council currently charges £1, while Gwynedd charges 70p, Denbighshire charges £1, and Anglesey charges 80p.
The scrutiny committee’s recommendations will be passed to the council’s cabinet, who will have a final say on the proposals on January 27.