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Parking charges proposal for Welsh beauty spot

By Emily Price
Wepre Park in Connah’s Quay

Alec Doyle - Local democracy reporter

Free parking at a popular Welsh beauty spot may be abolished by Flintshire County Council later this year.

Wepre Park in Connah’s Quay currently does not charge for parking, however the council has made a conservative estimate that it could generate £28,000 per year of revenue if included on the authority’s Traffic Regulation Order.

Officers have recommended charging £1 for up to two hours, £2 for up to four hours, £4 for all day parking or £50 for a full year season permit.

The charging structure is designed to be comparable to other popular countryside visitor attractions like Loggerheads.

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Payment terminals

It will cost the council approximately £20,000 to install payment terminals but according to Flintshire’s Car Parking Management Policy Review, which will be presented to the Environment and Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee next Tuesday, the popularity of Wepre Park could make it a valuable asset.

“Presently, the car park at Wepre Park is free and allows parking without restriction,” summarised Flintshire’s Chief Officer for Streetscene and Transportation Katie Wilby in the agenda for the meeting.

“Visitor numbers have increased significantly in the last five years, with vehicles and footfall having a negative impact on the site leading to an increase in maintenance beyond the current revenue budget.

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Problems

“It is proposed to introduce car park charging at Wepre Park to provide an additional income to better manage and maintain the car park and make up the deficit in the revenue budget.”

Since these plans were first discussed two yeaars ago there has been opposition from residents, with concerns that visitors will no longer come to the park or that  residentials streets nearby will be used instead, causing traffic problems.

If approved charges will be introduced from April this year.

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6 comments

Frank

Councils are becoming so desperate for cash due mostly to council high wage bills, long-term sickness costs, pensions, expenses, outside advice and incompetence they will be taxing fresh air soon. It begs the question if they are needed any longer considering the huge cuts they are making in public services. Most of taxpayers' money goes to keep an almost idle workforce.

Reply
Frank

It's so easy to thumbs down someone's comment. I wish nation.cymru did not allow these thumbs down unless a comment justifying and accompanying the action is posted.

Reply
Adrian Francis

Council workers probably.

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Brychan

The jump in public sector high wage bills is caused by the increase in employers NI contributions which will be imposed by the Labour Party.

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Peter Cuthbert

Whilst I cannot speak for Flintshire, I cannot agree that the Council workforces are 'almost idle'. Bin collection, street cleaning and all the other services that must be provided are pretty tough jobs for not very good pay. Those with the 'top jobs' seem to be excessively paid in most local authorities I would agree and some do appear to be very laid back. We need to remember that all these cuts to council funding are based on George Osbourne's market fundamentalist austerity programme which is still working its way through the land. There is also the problem of the Barnett Formula which unfairly penaises Cymru. [https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/explainer/barnett-formula] If the footfall for the park has increased and it is costing more than the Council can afford to maintain it then raising revenue from users does not seem too bad an idea to me. I agree that the issue of antisocial parking by people looking to freeride can be addressed by. for example, residents parking permits. It will need to be policed initially until word gets around that there is enforcement. I woud agree that to keep it free would be the best option but if there are no Magic Money Trees in the park, then some other source is needed.

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Charles Coombes

It set up and running costs will reduce any income. It reduce the facilities available to the area So no do not put charges in

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Councils are becoming so desperate for cash due mostly to council high wage bills, long-term sickness costs, pensions, expenses, outside advice and incompetence they will be taxing fresh air soon. It begs the question if they are needed any...

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