Free parking boost for Carmarthenshire shoppers
Free parking for shoppers across Carmarthenshire is a New Year’s resolution for the executive board.
They have recommended the bonus of free parking at all county council car parks from December 26th to January 1 at a cost of over £20,000.
The move has been brought in a bid to support traders and encourage more shoppers to visit town centres after Christmas.
The week between Christmas and New Year was considered to be of more benefit to businesses than the one originally proposed, which was from January 2 to 8.
In previous years, free parking has been given for the two weeks before Christmas, at a cost of approximately £70,000.
However, executive board members said that given the current difficult financial situation, facing budget cuts of millions of pounds, it would not be possible to give the concession this year.
However, they did want to show support for traders and determined to give free parking in the week between Christmas and the New Year instead.
A report which went before them today said that careful consideration had been given to free car parking and it had been noted car parks were always full in the run up to Christmas, therefore it made sense that shoppers were encouraged to town centres at the quieter period afterwards to help traders.
The report also stated that whilst difficult economic conditions prevailed and regeneration works continued, the council had supported town centres with free car parking in Llanelli and Ammanford.
Rural towns continued to benefit from lower charging bands and Carmarthen enjoyed the park and ride service.
Leader Cllr Kevin Madge said: “There is a lot of interest in this issue, and we have received several approaches regarding this. We are listening and we want to help traders, but we also have to be mindful of the severe budget cuts we are continuing to experience, and we have to prioritise our front line services, putting resources where they are needed most.
“By giving free parking for this particular week , we hope it will demonstrate our support and commitment to town centre traders, without costing the amount it has in previous years.”
The executive board also approved a suggestion by the Llanelli Star to offer vouchers for free parking.
They decided to give free parking from 10am to 2pm on Christmas Eve to motorists who displayed a voucher printed in the Llanelli Star, they also said they would extend the offer to any other newspapers in Carmarthenshire which wanted to participate.
They have recommended the bonus of free parking at all county council car parks from December 26th to January 1 at a cost of over £20,000.
The move has been brought in a bid to support traders and encourage more shoppers to visit town centres after Christmas.
The week between Christmas and New Year was considered to be of more benefit to businesses than the one originally proposed, which was from January 2 to 8.
In previous years, free parking has been given for the two weeks before Christmas, at a cost of approximately £70,000.
However, executive board members said that given the current difficult financial situation, facing budget cuts of millions of pounds, it would not be possible to give the concession this year.
However, they did want to show support for traders and determined to give free parking in the week between Christmas and the New Year instead.
A report which went before them today said that careful consideration had been given to free car parking and it had been noted car parks were always full in the run up to Christmas, therefore it made sense that shoppers were encouraged to town centres at the quieter period afterwards to help traders.
The report also stated that whilst difficult economic conditions prevailed and regeneration works continued, the council had supported town centres with free car parking in Llanelli and Ammanford.
Rural towns continued to benefit from lower charging bands and Carmarthen enjoyed the park and ride service.
Leader Cllr Kevin Madge said: “There is a lot of interest in this issue, and we have received several approaches regarding this. We are listening and we want to help traders, but we also have to be mindful of the severe budget cuts we are continuing to experience, and we have to prioritise our front line services, putting resources where they are needed most.
“By giving free parking for this particular week , we hope it will demonstrate our support and commitment to town centre traders, without costing the amount it has in previous years.”
The executive board also approved a suggestion by the Llanelli Star to offer vouchers for free parking.
They decided to give free parking from 10am to 2pm on Christmas Eve to motorists who displayed a voucher printed in the Llanelli Star, they also said they would extend the offer to any other newspapers in Carmarthenshire which wanted to participate.
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