Cardiff Council has spent £900,000 on a new parking system to help people find spaces, we asked the people of Cardiff if this was a good spend of their money.
The scheme, involving thousands of sensors and a new phone app, is aiming to reduce congestion and pollution in the city, easing every day and event traffic.
Using data from sensors the app gives drivers real time updates on parking spaces available all over the city.
Councilor Caro Wild told the BBC, “Congestion and driving at low speeds significantly increases pollutants from cars, so we want people to find a space and park as quickly as possible.”
Wales currently has more motorists on the road than ever before, according to the Welsh Government. But is this spending on parking justified in a city with many other issues to be dealt with? What should the council’s priorities be?
We headed out to hear what the people of Cardiff thought. A member of the public who wished to remain anonymous had this to say about the new app, “You don’t struggle to get parking around here anyway because it is so expensive so you don’t need to be able to find space.”
June, Retired
I wouldn’t have thought so. I think we should have a proper bus station in Cardiff which we haven’t got.Sam, Student
No, anything over than that.Terry, Retired
No I don’t, In my view that is not good, not good at all. The council cleansing department for a start you know the rubbish removal is non-existent. Rubbish, rubbish, rubbish!Carys, Cardiff University Employee
I certainly use the app instead of trying to find a machine that works. I didn’t know it cost that much.Chris, Cardiff University Employee
£900,000? Well if in the long run it saves money somehow. It’s a good idea yeah make people able to park easier that would be a good thing.