‘It’s bloody disgraceful,’ says resident and retired sailor David Buckland
MORE than 1,600 people have signed a petition opposing plans to introduce parking charges on Penarth seafront.
Vale of Glamorgan Council wants to introduce parking fees to address a budget shortfall, while “helping to look after much-loved resort areas”.
But residents and local business owners worry that the charges could make the seafront less accessible and welcoming.
Founder of the Change.org petition, Danielle Owen, said: “In an era where outdoor activities are heavily promoted for their mental and physical health benefits, it is unfair to make public spaces less accessible with extra cost burdens.
“Furthermore, small businesses such as cafe owners, souvenir shops and beach equipment rentals will be at risk.”
Ray Jones, a retiree from Caerphilly, learned of the proposals while fishing on the pier.
“I’ve been coming here since I was this high,” he said, holding his hand out at waist height.
“My family were miners and my dad would bring me from Abertridwr on the steam train, and we would walk through the park to the front. It was a great adventure.
“Now I try to come here as often as possible, sometimes to fish, sometimes to see the sunrise and watch the sea.
“Currently, I park on the front and carry my fishing things along the pier. Paying would be that little bit extra. It wouldn’t stop me from coming, nothing would, but it’s that little bit extra.”
Left: Ray Jones at Penarth Pier James Bessant Davies
Richard Hayward, owner of the Beachcliff complex, said: “Penarth businesses need every bit of support they can get. The charges will impact visitors and put further pressure on local businesses that are already struggling with rising costs.”
Proposed charges and locations
The new charges will apply to the following areas in Penarth:
- The Esplanade
- Cliff Hill
- Bridgeman Road
Parking Charges
Off-street charges (Cliff Walk car park):
On-street charges (10am – 6pm):
- Up to 2 hours: £2.00
- Up to 4 hours: £4.00
- Up to 6 hours: £6.00
- All day: £8.00
- Up to 2 hours: £2.50
- Up to 3 hours: £4.00
- Up to 4 hours: £6.00
What does the council say?
Vale council estimates that installing parking meters and signs would cost £69,536, with annual maintenance costs of about £10,000. It estimates that the 94 on-street spaces would generate about £61,758 per year.
Council leader Lis Burnett said: “While we welcome people to the Vale and understand why they want to enjoy the fantastic attractions on offer here, there are maintenance and resort management costs associated with visitors which the council must meet.
“Asking this group to contribute to the upkeep of our resorts is only fair as that responsibility should not lie solely with residents.
“We have made on-street parking free before 10am to accommodate locals and restricted on-street parking to a maximum of four hours to ensure different people can access these spaces throughout the day.”
What do the public think?
“It’s not good,” said Thomas Bell, a Penarth resident who visits the esplanade frequently with his wife Laura and their young children.
“We have young kids and come often to walk. We are about a 30-minute walk away, which is a trek with the children’s buggies. We normally drive to the seafront and walk along the pier.
“If you have to pay, it’s going to be harder for us; we might have to think of going somewhere else.”
David Buckland, a retired sailor who lives in Penarth, said: “It’s bloody disgraceful.
“I’m just disgusted at it all. It seems the council doesn’t know how to generate money other than looking at someone with a car. This area is so dependent on tourism. The fees that they charge will just keep people away.
“People come from the Valleys and don’t want to spend a couple of extra quid, that’s their ice-cream money.”
Cath Woodhead, who works at Shore gift shop on the Esplanade, said: “In the winter it’s a quiet time. Lots of elderly people visit and I think these new charges will put people off.
“It’s a no from me. I’m somebody who won’t go to Barry Island because of the lack of free parking on the front. I think it will have a massive impact on the businesses here.”
Karen Smith is a community nurse at the Marie Curie Hospice on Bridgeman Road. She is concerned how the parking charges will affect the hospice.
“I regularly have to walk to and from my car with heavy equipment. Parking close to the hospice means better time management,” she wrote on the petition:
“These charges will increase parking issues around Bridgeman Road and impact the 200 patients on our caseload. We park here to work, not for leisure.”
Sophie Harrop, a postgraduate physiotherapy student, is one of the many people who come from Cardiff to enjoy the peace of the seafront. “I drive 20 minutes from Cathays to walk. I come knowing that I can park down here for free.
“I probably pop over with friends several times a month. It’s a beautiful place, and a walk here really clears the mind. I think it’d be a shame. I would consider driving somewhere else.”
What happens next?
Vale of Glamorgan Council Environment and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee postponed a discussion on the issue scheduled for January 14 to allow more time for public engagement.
Committee chair Susan Lloyd-Selby said: “There is understandably a considerable amount of public interest and concern about the proposals set out in the report. I propose that the report is deferred to a separate special meeting to ensure sufficient time for committee to scrutinise the report as well as enabling effective public participation.”
The next Environment and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee meeting is set to take place on January 28, 2025.
