Free parking will be offered in Powys town in the run up to Christmas

Free parking will be provided in Builth Wells for three Saturday's before Christmas, to give the town a festive boost.

The town council said it would like to give local businesses a boost by offering free parking on the three Saturdays before Christmas – December 5, 12 and 19.

Town clerk Louise Hammond asked Powys County Council how much it would cost the town council to pay for the Groe car park for the three Saturdays before Christmas.

At the October meeting, Mrs Hammond said Powys County Council had approved the free parking request and costs of £1148.28 has now left the council's account.

This sum is for the free parking and a one-off £98.40 administration fee.

Deputy Mayor Councillor Gwyn Davies said the chamber of trade had discussed the matter and they would match fund the project, although they don't have big funds at the moment.

He said if the town council could pay half the cost which would be about £575 and the chamber of trade would match fund that amount.

“We have not got that much money yet within the chamber of trade but if we can do it to help the town and the chamber of trade members then it would be a good thing.”

Councillor Davies said the December 12 Saturday would coincide with the Christmas tractor run and the grotto.

The move came about after Builth Wells Town Council received an email from Welshpool Town Council recently which said they have approved a 26-week trial of free Saturday parking at the Powys County Council owned Church Street car park, running from April to September 2026.

Welshpool council clerk Richard Williams said they are badged it as a “Pay What You Can” initiative, with parking remaining free and any contributions entirely voluntary.

He added: “It followed a short pilot during the Christmas period, where they sought to gather evidence on the impact of removing parking charges.

“Whilst car park usage did not show a clear visual increase during that period, they undertook a business survey which returned very strong positive feedback, with over 80% of respondents reporting increased footfall, longer dwell time, and improved trading conditions.

He said key constraint they encountered is that Powys County Council will only permit full suspension of charges, rather than alternative tariff models, which limits the flexibility of town and community councils to design locally appropriate solutions.

He said Welshpool council had asked him to engage with other towns in Powys to find out if they have similar concerns, to share evidence and learning from their trial and to explore whether there is merit in a collective approach to Powys County Council regarding parking policy, particularly around flexibility and economic regeneration.

In May Mrs Hammond reminded members that the council had implemented a similar scheme shortly after Covid-19, offering a month of free Saturday parking at The Groe, which was a great success.

Members noted that three Saturdays of free parking will be available at the Groe before Christmas.