Free shoppers' car parking idea for Ammanford
Free shoppers car parking across three Ammanford car parks for up to eight weeks is being considered from September.
A multi-million-pound regeneration programme is underway to improve the environment in the town centre. Leader of Carmarthenshire Council Kevin Madge said there was so much work going on they wanted to help traders by supporting free parking for shoppers for up to four hours each day from 10am.
He said: “Although the town centre works do not affect access to any of the shops or businesses, we appreciate there is disruption and want to support traders and shoppers during this time.
“The works include improvements to the bus station - which have already started - and town centre retail areas. We expect this stage of our regeneration plans to be completed by November, it will provide real benefits for the town in improving the infrastructure, making Ammanford town centre a more attractive place to shop and visit, and help boost the local economy.”
With a total of 131 free car parking spaces involved at Wind Street, Hall Street and Baltic car parks, executive board member for transport services Colin Evans said the cost to the authority would be more than £9,000.
Cllr Evans said the move to bring in free parking originated from a recent meeting of the Ammanford town centre steering group where businesses had asked for support during the disruption caused by the regeneration work.
Cllr Evans said: “As a result of the discussion at the meeting, we asked our transport engineering and regeneration teams to see how we can help over this transitional period. It was felt the shoppers free parking whilst this work is carried out was the best way to do this.”
A report is going to the next executive board which meets in Ammanford Town Hall on July 30. It will recommend the introduction of the free parking for up to four hours across the three car parks for up to eight weeks or until the works are completed. The free parking will not start until 10am each day to prevent parking spaces being blocked office workers and retail staff.
A multi-million-pound regeneration programme is underway to improve the environment in the town centre. Leader of Carmarthenshire Council Kevin Madge said there was so much work going on they wanted to help traders by supporting free parking for shoppers for up to four hours each day from 10am.
He said: “Although the town centre works do not affect access to any of the shops or businesses, we appreciate there is disruption and want to support traders and shoppers during this time.
“The works include improvements to the bus station - which have already started - and town centre retail areas. We expect this stage of our regeneration plans to be completed by November, it will provide real benefits for the town in improving the infrastructure, making Ammanford town centre a more attractive place to shop and visit, and help boost the local economy.”
With a total of 131 free car parking spaces involved at Wind Street, Hall Street and Baltic car parks, executive board member for transport services Colin Evans said the cost to the authority would be more than £9,000.
Cllr Evans said the move to bring in free parking originated from a recent meeting of the Ammanford town centre steering group where businesses had asked for support during the disruption caused by the regeneration work.
Cllr Evans said: “As a result of the discussion at the meeting, we asked our transport engineering and regeneration teams to see how we can help over this transitional period. It was felt the shoppers free parking whilst this work is carried out was the best way to do this.”
A report is going to the next executive board which meets in Ammanford Town Hall on July 30. It will recommend the introduction of the free parking for up to four hours across the three car parks for up to eight weeks or until the works are completed. The free parking will not start until 10am each day to prevent parking spaces being blocked office workers and retail staff.
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