County Hall

A NOTICE of motion calling for the council to consider introducing trials on a number of car parking charges in Pembrokeshire has been refused.

The matter was discussed at a meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet on Monday, February 22.

Cllr Bob Kilmister had called for the introduction of a parking passport, trialling 10p parking charges and short stay parking areas.

However, he was told that there was already work being done and that free Pop and Shop bays had already been implemented in some areas.

Cllr Kilmister had submitted his proposals on the back of evidence in Cwmbran and Ceredigion where free parking had increased the trade within those areas.

Cllr Bob Kilmister said: “This Notice of motion is designed to help this council achieve a balance between its income from car parks and the clear evidence that our traditional town centres are struggling while many out of town retail parks thrive.

“If this council benefitted directly from business rates I put it to you that this council would view this subject very differently.

“Empty retail businesses do not have a direct impact on this council’s revenue. They do, however,  have a huge impact on the economy and employment. This explains why this council has done so little since its inception to support its town centres. It’s just about the money.

“The evidence presented in respect of the Cwmbran and Cardigan experiences is completely one-eyed.

“A letter from The British Parking Association is provided as evidence but they’re simply a vested interest whose business is car parking and there letter is simply an expression of them wanting a justification for their business.

“The experience of what happened in Cwmbran as a direct result of them doing something different has not been investigated in any shape or form. Nobody actually reviewed what happened in either town.

“I put forward suggestions for possible trials this council could take. It seems to me that if members of the public brought parking tickets in advance they are much more likely to use our car parks and it would boost trade.

“This report suggests that you carry on regardless. You could be innovative but that might be too much of a risk for you.

“This notice of motion suggests that you do an in-depth study and look at trials and the fact that that idea is being rejected is entirely the wrong approach.”

Council Leader Jamie Adams said that the Cwmbran centre was owned by the land owner and also added that the High Street in Ceredigion was clogged up when CPE’s were not undertaking.

He added: “Parking charges in Ceredigion are considerably higher. Highlighting the issue of vandalised machines in cardigan as a sign of progress is something we should not be considering.”

Cllr Rob Lewis disagreed that the Council had a ‘one-eyed approach’ and said: “You are not looking at the wider traffic management matters. When we introduced the last raft of charges on new car parks we, as part of that process, have asked the officers to look at the impacts and this is something that is ongoing and is something that is already happening.”

Head of Highways and Transportation, Darren Thomas said: “With regard to the free spaces, the most recent example of this is the introduction of the pop and shop bays but it is very early to comment but at the moment it is having a positive impact.

“There is no doubt that the charging regime does have an impact.”

Cllr Huw George said: “We’ve mentioned Narberth, what is important about Narberth is the offer.

“The offer in Narberth is very good and perhaps we need to be concentrating on this to make sure that the offer in our town centres is drawing people to them so they get what they want.”

Cllr Sue Perkins said that the car parking charges in Pembroke Dock hadn’t made any difference to the town.

Cllr Myles Pepper added that retailers needed to be ‘more clever’ in how they present their offers.

Responding to the comments, Cllr Bob Kilmister said: “Cwmbran used to charge and the centre wasn’t thriving so they decided to change their process and it became completely different.

“I understand we need car parking revenue and I am not saying that we take away charges.

“I am not suggesting that anyone should go out and vandalise a machine but the experience there was somewhat dramatic. You have two places in Wales where something has happened but we have chosen not to take account of that.

“Short stay parking as a retailer can be complicated because you are not able to stay there long enough to do all the shopping you need.

“The offer is absolutely critical in any retail environment and that is the problem we have at the moment.”

The recommendation to refuse the notice of motion was accepted by Cabinet members.