Controversial plans to scrap free parking at Barry Island and Penarth will go ahead as planned.
But following a review, the council’s cabinet members decided on Thursday to press ahead with the proposal, arguing it will generate revenue that can help protect the Vale’s coastal resorts and increase the turnover of visitors there.
The proposal to close Court Road multi-storey car park in Barry, which was also part of the council’s initial plans, will also be going ahead.
Council leader Lis Burnett insists the changes would "encouraging people to use car parks, public transport and active forms of travel" by reducing congeston and improving traffic flow.
She said: "It has also been proven that people are moving directly from one on-street parking space to another, deliberately abusing the current system by overstaying. We need to stop that. We also want to increase the turnover and availability of spaces."
"The income raised will be reinvested into the resorts and highway maintenance at these popular locations."
But local businesses fear the impact that not having two hours free parking will have on their quieter months in the winter when many of them rely on regular customers.
Petitions set up opposing the proposed charges in Barry Island and Penarth have received 3,337 and 2,996 signatures, respectively.
The following on-street locations will be affected by new parking charges after a 21-day consultation period:
Barry Island
- Paget Road – 54 spaces
- Breaksea Drive – 56 spaces
- Friars Road – 8 spaces (excludes disabled parking)
- Station Approach Road – 49 spaces
Penarth seafront
- The Esplanade – 42 spaces
- Cliff Hill – 58 spaces
- Cliff Parade – 26 Spaces
- Beach Road (Part) – 13 spaces
- Bridgeman Road (Part) – 12 spaces
Vale of Glamorgan Council is proposing to charge for parking at these locations seven days a week between the hours of 10am and 6pm.
Cllr Burnett added: "We have made on-street parking at resorts free before 10am to try and accommodate those living locally and restricted on-street parking in these areas to a maximum of four hours to ensure different people can access spaces throughout the day."
There will be a maximum stay period of four hours. Parking will be charged as follows:
- Up to two hours – £2.50
- Up to three hours – £4
- Up to four hours – £6
The initial proposals for parking on-street were to charge for seven days a week from 8am to 6pm at a similar hourly fee scale.
When it revealed its proposed parking charges earlier this year, the county council also said it wanted to introduce car parking charges for a number of off-street locations.
The principle of charging at these coastal car parks, including Portobello and Westfarm in Ogmore, the Knap and Bryn Y Mor in Barry, and Penarth Cliff Walk, was approved in March.
Vale of Glamorgan Council will review car parking charges at on-street sites in Barry Island and Penarth two years after they are implemented.
Cllr Mark Wilson, cabinet member for neighbourhood and building services, said: “These are very popular resorts. We want to encourage people to visit those resorts."
"We don’t want them to go… around in circles [trying to] finding a space."
Cllr Wilson said the local authority also hopes that the changes will help reduce congestion in Barry Island and Penarth and improve air quality.
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