Fay Jones MP has written to Powys County Council requesting changes to car parking ahead of the countdown to Christmas.
Following the recent hike in parks fees across our towns, Powys County Council have seen an unexpected rise in income which Miss Jones feels could be used to subsidise free parking on Saturdays in the approach to Christmas, which would be a huge benefit to businesses in our market towns.
Miss Jones has previously spoken out about the car price increase, challenging the Council to resume one hour parking. The new leadership of the local authority has increased minimum parking fees from £1 to £2.50 in car parks right across Powys.
As well as increasing parking fees, the Council has removed a number of parking spaces in towns by failing to remove Covid-era social distancing measures such as planters and bollards.
Miss Jones said in her letter that business owners and residents have approached her to discuss their concerns around car parking in Brecon and Radnorshire. Many are deeply upset and concerned about the rising costs, and in some towns, having to pay for two hours car parking as a minimum. Free Saturday parking may encourage residents to shop locally again, which would give our local businesses a well-deserved boost over the festive period.
Ahead of a working group meeting at Powys Council Ms Jones commented:
"The local authority has had a boost in revenue from these increased parking charges. Some of this ought to be directed towards free parking at the weekends as shoppers get ready for Christmas. Local independent retailers deserve to have the best Christmas ever and the Council could drive this forward if they wanted to.
Powys County Council needs to take steps to boost high street footfall and this is the perfect way of doing it. The next step should be to remove the planters and bollards which have obstructed high street parking. They were brought in under Covid regulations and it’s high time they went.”
