Shropshire Star

Parking clampdown may hit council staff

Councillors have agreed to consult on introducing traffic regulation orders at council office car parks around Powys after access concerns were raised by emergency services.

Published
County Hall in Llandrindod Wells

On Tuesday, Powys County Council's cabinet considered a report that found car parks at County Hall in Llandrindod Wells, Park Offices in Newtown and other offices in the region were overflowing, and staff were parking on pavements and verges.

Health and safety concerns were raised by emergency services, which called for clear access routes to be put in place.

The cabinet was informed measures had taken place to meet health and safety requirements, however a consultation will now take place in a bid to introduce traffic regulation orders in all council office car parks around the county to remove any future risks.

Cabinet member for adult social care, councillor Stephen Hayes said social workers often visit council offices on a regular basis and only stop for a short period, and a way to tackle that problem could be to introduce workers with parking permits to park in nearby car parks.

Councillor Myfanwy Alexander believed another way to address the problem could be through car sharing.

She said: "Currently some councillors are really good with car sharing, and this might be something else we could do and reward people who do share cars with access to parking spaces."

Once a consultation has taken place and traffic regulation orders are put in place, the council will explore other avenues which could see them spend £175,000 building a new car park at County Hall.

Plans in the report state that it would cost £120,000 to increase the current visitor car park, and a second option, to demolish the former archives building and build a car park in its place would cost over £175,000.

In the report, councillor Phyl Davies, cabinet member for highways said that following a review: "If no reduction in car parking demand is found then capital investment in the corporate car parks may be required in order to meet current Health and Safety concerns."

At other council offices around Powys, it has been proposed to use pay and display car parks as overspill car parks for council staff.

Another proposal that was passed as to launch an internal awareness campaign highlighting the implications of inappropriate parking at council offices which cause health and safety concerns.