Conwy to Introduce Parking Charges at Free Car Parks After Budget Cuts

Conwy will introduce charges at two of its free car parks this week.
And prices are set to increase at all Conwy’s pay-and-display car parks from Friday (29 March), just in time for the busy bank holiday weekend.
The extra cost to drivers follows the authority slashing front-line service budgets and increasing council tax by 9.67%.
The cash-strapped authority is blaming the Welsh Government for the move after receiving the joint lowest rise in Wales of its annual local government settlement.
Free car parks at Llanfairfechan promenade and Plas yn Dre in Llanrwst will see parking charges introduced from 80p for one hour, £1.60 for two, £3.60 for up to four hours, £5 for over four hours, and £6.20 for 24 hours. Drivers will even be charged £1.20 to park overnight.
New increased pay-and-display charges will also be introduced across the county but will vary car park to car park.
Cllr Goronwy Edwards, cabinet member for the environment, roads and facilities, and infrastructure, said:  “Following the disappointing settlement from Welsh Government, we’re doing everything we can to protect vital services in Conwy county.
“This means every council service has to balance its budget, which includes increasing revenue as well as cutting back spending on non-essential services. There are difficult choices for us to make, such as increasing parking fees.”
A spokeswoman for Conwy County Council commented, “We are planning to resurface and amend the layout of the existing car park at Llanfairfechan in 2024. The work will also include improving the drainage, installing EV charging points, and adding 18 grasscrete car park spaces in the overflow section.
“The improved car park will have car parking charges, which will contribute towards the cost.”
She added, “We will be resurfacing Watling Street car park and making improvements to Plas yn Dre car park in Llanrwst this year, including possibly adding EV charging points. In order to contribute to the costs of this work for both of these car parks, we are introducing car parking charges to Plas yn Dre.
“We will be creating 36 car parking spaces in the Mostyn Broadway coach park in Llandudno, including two disabled spaces. There will still be designated spaces for coach drop-offs and pick-ups. We expect this extra car parking to be available for the summer.”
The raised charges will introduced at Osborne Road, Llandudno Junction; Colwyn Avenue, Rhos On Sea; Watling Street, Llanrwst; Fernbrook Road, Penmaenmawr; Bodlondeb, Conwy; Station Road, Deganwy; Douglas Road, Colwyn Bay; Princes Drive Car Park, Colwyn Bay; Dale Road, Llandudno; Kinmel Beach, Kinmel Bay; Mount Pleasant, Conwy; Morfa Bach, Conwy; Sandbank Road, Towyn; Pont y Pair, Betws Y Coed; Maelgwyn Road, Llandudno; York Road, Llandudno; Ivy Street, Colwyn Bay; Vicarage Gardens, Conwy; Market Place, Conwy; Town Hall, Llandudno; and Mostyn Broadway, Llandudno.
Other car parks where charges will increase include Great Orme Summit, Llandudno; Venue Cymru, Llandudno; and Happy Valley, Llandudno.
On-street parking charges will also increase at The Parade, Llandudno, and Colwyn Bay promenade.
New parking spaces set to be introduced at Mostyn Broadway coach park in Llandudno this summer will cost £2 for one hour, £4 for two hours, £7.50 for four hours, and £2 overnight.
For a full list of car parking fees, visit https://www.conwy.gov.uk/en/Resident/Parking-Roads-and-Travel/Traffic-Regulation-Orders/Current-Traffic-Regulation-Orders/Variation-of-Charges-Car-Parks-and-On-Street-Parking/Variation-of-Charges-Car-Parks-and-On-Street-Parking.aspx

By Richard Evans – Local Democracy Reporter