Parking in Powys County Council (PCC) administered car parks will cost up to 25% more when new charges are introduced, it has been revealed.
Currently it costs £3.20 four over four hours, but that will go up by a whopping 80p to £4 under new plans. The other hourly rates are also rising.
But there is good news for regular parkers with the price of an annual ticket being frozen at £370 as the council tries to encourage more motorists to take this option.
Cabinet member for Highways, Recycling and Assets, Cllr Phyl Davies, made the decision using delegated powers.
Cllr Davies said: “Providing safe and convenient parking is vital to the economy of Powys, ensuring that our towns remain easily accessible for people who choose to drive.”
This was the first option on a list of six which were looked at by PCC and it is expected that the implementation will generate a saving of £280,000.
According to the report this will mostly offset the £100,000 that it costs PCC to allow Blue Badge holders free parking.
The report says: “Permits are available for regular users of car parks. Predominantly these will be people who work in a town and travel by car.
“The current permit was linked to full day tariff and offered a 50% discount on a worker working five days per week for 46 weeks of the year.
“Instead of altering the cost of a permit to reflect the revised charging, it is proposed to maintain the existing charges for permits. This will in effect provide a greater reduction for the worker working full time.
“Freezing the permit prices makes them even more economical with the potential to offer a substantial 60% discount on parking for a regular user and equates to an equivalent of paying just £1.61 per day.
“The annual cost of £370, when compared to the daily charge, will be beneficial to someone who on average parks two days per week in a pay and display car park.”
Bigger vehicles that take up to two spaces will be expected to pay double the price.
The new car park costs are set to be:
Short stay:
Car/Motorcycle/Goods Vehicle up to Three tonnes
Up to one hour = £1
One to two hours = £2
Long stay
Car/Motorcycle/Goods Vehicle up to three tonnes
Two to four hours = £3
Over four hours = £4
Vehicle + Trailer/Goods Vehicles over three tonnes/Motorhome/Bus
Up to one hour = £2
One to two hours = £4
Two to four hours = £6
Over four hours = £8
By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporter