Welsh residents ‘charged to watch sunset’

A PARKING row has erupted in north Wales after a council was accused of forcing residents to pay to see the sunset.

Residents in seaside towns in Denbighshire such as Prestatyn and Rhyl often visit local beaches for an evening walk in the spring and summer months, where parking would be free after 5pm.

This provision was withdrawn by Denbighshire council amid “budgetary pressures” earlier this year however, with parking charges now levied until 11pm in the summer, which has prompted uproar.

When Denbighshire council increased parking tariffs in March, it also extended chargeable hours. In most cases, fees are now payable from 8am until 11pm. In some car parks, such as Rhyl Harbour, charging hours start at 6am. In others, like Nova West,

Prestatyn, fees are payable only until 8pm over winter.

The local authority said it had researched what other councils were doing and had altered its charging structure accordingly. In the county, many now start from £1.50 for two hours in winter, rising to £2 for the rest of the year.

People staying all evening are now charged up to £5 in summer or £3 in winter, when previously it was free.

On social media, a woman from Prestatyn, said: “If you pay local council tax, it should include free parking passes. We live here … why do we have to pay to see the sunset or sunrise in our own town?”

Another resident said: “We used to like going down to the beach to sit in our van and watch the sunsets. But with these ridiculous charges, especially for locals, we refuse to pay them, and now have to do without that pleasure.”

One woman said: “Many of us locals used to go there after 5pm to walk our dogs, enjoy the evening, unwind and make the most of our area. Unfortunately, no more.”

Neighbouring Conwy council has a similar policy, charging either £1.20 or £2 for post-6pm parking.

When Denbighshire’s new charging regime was introduced, it also caused outrage among users of Marine Lake, in Rhyl. Joggers and dog walkers labelled the move an “exercise tax” on the only saltwater lake in north Wales.

Denbighshire council was approached for a comment.

‘We used to like to go down and watch the sunset. We refuse to pay so now we do without that pleasure’