The end of free parking could be in force by the end of the year
A PLAN to end free parking in two car parks behind Whitchurch high street is moving forward, despite the concerns of residents and businesses.
Cardiff Council wants to introduce charges at the Merthyr Road and Penlline car parks but shop owners believe this would affect the number of customers dropping by.
At the moment shoppers get two hours of free parking. Under the new tariffs, residents will be charged £0.50 for one hour, £1 for two hours, £2.50 for three hours and £3.50 for four hours.
The maximum stay would also be reduced from five to four hours.
The plans were first announced as part of a budget consultation last year. The council has now advertised a proposed Traffic Regulation Order, part of the legal process to enforce the parking changes.
If successful, the new tariffs could be implemented by the end of this year.
“It’s frustrating,” said Alwen Lewis, owner of Iechyd Da, a health food store on Merthyr Road.
She wants the council to encourage people to shop locally and is concerned about the knock-on-effect that removing free parking could have on businesses.
“Why have they gone from two hours free to no hours free?” said Ms Lewis, who believes that one hour of free parking would allow people to do all the shopping they needed while supporting local businesses.
“We are hoping people will oppose it.”
A spokesman for Cardiff Council said: “The council’s budget position this year is one of the most challenging the council has ever faced. Difficult decisions have had to be made, which includes the removal of the free one or two hour parking in residential shopping areas.”
Residents have until February 22, 2025, to object to the proposals as part of the traffic regulation order process.
If the charges do go ahead, Ms Lewis hopes the council will make the change clearly visible to shoppers.
“Things need to be made clearer,” she said, adding that many customers are unaware they can now park for free. They end up buying tickets anyway.
“If it does happen, it will affect a lot of shops,” said James Wood, who works at Parson’s Bakery.
He said that alongside current rising costs, the price of parking could impact people.
“A lot of people can’t walk very far,” he said.
“I think it will push people away,” said Whitchurch shopper Gaynor Bevan. She and her husband, Tony, are worried that it would encourage residents to use nearby supermarkets instead.
“If people are going to be charged, people will go elsewhere,” she said.
Mr Hartson, volunteers at the City Hospice shop on Whitchurch high street, but lives in Abergavenny. He said when free parking was taken away there, many shops closed down. and is worried the same could happen in Whitchurch.
“It’s wrong,” Mr Hartson said. “If people don’t park, the shops close down.”
A Cardiff Council spokesperson said any surplus income generated by the parking charges would be re-invested to improve public transport, walking and cycling facilities across the city.
“As a council we have to encourage people to become less reliant on their private car. To do this, we are investing significantly in cycling and walking routes, as well as improving the infrastructure for bus travel, so bus operators can provide a better and more efficient service for their customers,” said the spokesperson.
“By investing in public transport and active travel, we will provide a credible alternative to travelling by private car, which in turn has significant benefits, giving residents and visitors better and healthier options to travel around the city. The aim has to be to reduce congestion, significantly improve the air that we all breathe, while making Cardiff a better place to live and visit.”
Merthyr Road and Penlline Road Car Park currently have 64 and 55 parking spaces respectively.
