Car parking fees to soar

Car parking charges in Powys are to rise by up to 25 per cent in a bid by the county council to raise £100,000.

Powys County Council will increase charges at long stay car parks by more than 13 per cent and 12-month car parking permits by a quarter as soon as possible after April 1.

Charges will also be introduced at nine car parks, including Watergate Street in Llanfair Caereinion and Llanfyllin car park, in a bid to help the council raise the money.

At a meeting of the council's board in Llandrindod Wells yesterday members voted for the increases.

It will mean tariffs for motor cars and motorcycles at long stay car parks will increase from £1.70 to £2 for up to four hours and from £2.20 to £2.50 for more than four hours.

The cost of a 12-month car parking permit will be increased by £30 from £120 to £150. Pro rata increases for six and three-month car parking charges, and permits for other classes of vehicles are also proposed.

It will also mean that charges will be introduced to a number of free car parks, which have about 350 spaces.

Councillor Geraint Hopkins, portfolio holder for local environment and services, said frontline services would suffer unless councillors agreed to the proposals

"Taking into account the current financial crisis and the need to support town centre businesses throughout Powys, it is suggested that the existing short stay charges, at pay and display car parks be retained at the current level for the forthcoming year.

"It is recognised that these car parks attract short stay visitors and shoppers to the town."

Councillor Graham Brown for Llandrinio said: "I support the introduction of parking charges to free car parks across the region as long as it is feasible but I'm not sure if some of them are.

"I also think we should be looking at introducing charges to council office car parks as a lot of our residents are going to start asking questions on why council staff don't have to pay."

Councillor Russell George, for Newtown Central, said he did not agree with the huge hike.

"Increasing permits by 25 per cent is ridiculous."