{"id":92608,"date":"2025-02-11T14:54:07","date_gmt":"2025-02-11T14:54:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?p=92608"},"modified":"2025-02-11T15:22:25","modified_gmt":"2025-02-11T15:22:25","slug":"they-are-killing-the-high-street-shop-owners-fume-as-council-set-to-axe-free-parking-in-canton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2025\/02\/11\/they-are-killing-the-high-street-shop-owners-fume-as-council-set-to-axe-free-parking-in-canton\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018They are killing the high street\u2019: Shop owners fume as council set to axe free parking in Canton"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">An end to free parking will hurt businesses, say shop owners who want to &#8216;Make Canton great again&#8217;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>SHOP owners in Canton are fighting back against Cardiff Council\u2019s decision to get rid of free parking close to Cowbridge Road East.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Carparks on Gray Street, Harvey Street, Severn Road and Wellington Street all currently offer two hours free parking to shoppers, but this is set to change later in the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Under current proposals, two hours of parking will now cost \u00a32 with a further \u00a31.50 jump if you wish to add an extra 60 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is in line with the changes being made to parking across Cardiff including in <a href=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2025\/01\/31\/plans-for-charges-at-whitchurch-high-street-car-parks-move-forward-despite-residents-concerns\/\">Whitchurch<\/a> and Penylan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But members of the Cowbridge Road East Traders Association (CRETA), a group made up of shop owners on the street, are urging people to reject proposals and force the council to reconsider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Richard Swambo, who has worked at Laura\u2019s Fruit Shop for over 35 years, is active in the campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s not about the pound increase,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt is nice that somebody can come down to Canton and know they are parking for free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThey can come down have a coffee and go shopping. The issue isn\u2019t necessarily the pound, it\u2019s the message behind it. They talk about saving the high street, how is this saving the high street?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/swambo-final-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-92642\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/swambo-final-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/swambo-final-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/swambo-final-770x578.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/swambo-final-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/swambo-final-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/swambo-final-293x220.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/swambo-final-1400x1050.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/swambo-final-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-92642\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/swambo-final-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/swambo-final-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/swambo-final-770x578.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/swambo-final-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/swambo-final-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/swambo-final-293x220.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/swambo-final-1400x1050.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Richard Swambo has been working at Laura&#8217;s for over 30 years.<\/strong> Credit: Haris Armstrong<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The 55-year-old has erected a hand-painted sign in Gray Street carpark to raise people\u2019s awareness of the issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe need a bit of people power for the council to actually do something,\u201d he told me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cCanton used to a be a really busy place, take a look outside now and it is quiet. We can\u2019t have more of that, they are killing the high street.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Further down the road is Zero Plus fish and chip shop, owned by CRETA chairman Zohaib Hussain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 38-year-old has been speaking to the council on behalf of affected shop owners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNo one is happy about it, not one person has said this is alright or this will be good for business,&#8221; he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAll we want is a level playing field. If our carparks are not going to free then neither should the ones at Western Avenue or at the Capital Shopping Park.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/narrow-final-1-1-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-92627\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/narrow-final-1-1-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/narrow-final-1-1-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/narrow-final-1-1-770x1155.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/narrow-final-1-1-293x440.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/narrow-final-1-1.jpg 872w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/narrow-final-1-1-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-92627\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/narrow-final-1-1-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/narrow-final-1-1-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/narrow-final-1-1-770x1155.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/narrow-final-1-1-293x440.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/narrow-final-1-1.jpg 872w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>&#8216;Make Canton Great Again&#8217; says Mr Swambo<\/strong>. Credit: Haris Armstrong <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/HUSSAIN-na-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-92638\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/HUSSAIN-na-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/HUSSAIN-na-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/HUSSAIN-na-770x1155.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/HUSSAIN-na-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/HUSSAIN-na-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/HUSSAIN-na-293x440.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/HUSSAIN-na-1400x2100.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/HUSSAIN-na-scaled.jpg 1707w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/HUSSAIN-na-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-92638\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/HUSSAIN-na-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/HUSSAIN-na-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/HUSSAIN-na-770x1155.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/HUSSAIN-na-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/HUSSAIN-na-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/HUSSAIN-na-293x440.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/HUSSAIN-na-1400x2100.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/HUSSAIN-na-scaled.jpg 1707w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Mr Hussain is a spokesperson for the street.<\/strong> Credit. Haris Armstrong<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Business owners will be the ones paying the price for the council\u2019s decision according to Mr Hussain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYou talk about a cost of living crisis for consumers, it&#8217;s cost of living crisis for businesses,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe didn&#8217;t have the cap on energy like others did, it just seems as if everything is going against us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI have had some shopkeepers crying their eyes out at the potential impact of this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A petition started by CRETA on change.org received almost 12,000 signatures across the wards of Canton, Whitchurch and Riverside. But, according to Mr Hussain, the council rejected it because it did not contain the relevant postcodes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2018It\u2019s like legal stealing\u2019 <\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Shoppers who regularly visit the road have also been left confused and annoyed by the plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bill Gambarini, 44, lives in Llandaff and said he would rather shop closer to home than pay the money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt would be a real nuisance for me. Who wants to pay extra money &#8211; especially as the machines never seem to work,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/bill-final-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-92641\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/bill-final-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/bill-final-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/bill-final-770x578.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/bill-final-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/bill-final-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/bill-final-293x220.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/bill-final-1400x1050.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/bill-final-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-92641\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/bill-final-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/bill-final-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/bill-final-770x578.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/bill-final-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/bill-final-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/bill-final-293x220.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/bill-final-1400x1050.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Bill Gambarini will not come back if plans go ahead.<\/strong> Credit: Haris Armstrong<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Guru Prasad, who travels from Cardiff Bay, would not make the journey if the parking was no longer free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe are already paying a lot of money to the council, inflation is high and prices are increasing everywhere,&#8221;  said the 45-year-old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cElectricity has gone up, council tax has gone up. It\u2019s like legal stealing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The last line of Mr Swambo\u2019s sign reads \u201cMake Canton great again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This resonated with Mr Prasad who worries that the businesses on Cowbridge Road will struggle to cope with reduced footfall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI have always come shopping here since I moved to the city. It\u2019s great and has all the shops I need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI think many people will be put off now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A Cardiff Council spokesperson said: \u201cThe council\u2019s budget position for the last two years has been challenging. Difficult decisions have had to me made, which includes the removal of the free one or two hour parking in residential shopping areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAs a council we must 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBy investing in public transport and active travel, we will provide a credible alternative to travelling by private car.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Cardiffian is <a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/thecardiffian.bsky.social\">now on BlueSky<\/a>. 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