Car parks in chaos (From Barry And District News)

Car parks in chaos

ANGRY Barry town workers who protested against the Vale of Glamorgan Council decision to keep the town's car parks shut until after 9am say they are disgusted with the way the authority is handling this situation and are furious that plans to charge for short term parking are being kept under wraps.

On Monday (November 15) staff from offices and shops along Holton Road joined a peaceful queue in their cars outside the Court Road multi-storey while they waited for it to open.

Although traffic was able to get around them, the vehicles stretched back to the Wyndham Street junction.

But in response to a letter sent to the Vale of Glamorgan Council, it was revealed there are proposals to install a'pay on foot' barrier control in the Court Road car park in the New Year.

The letter states that the late opening times are only an interim measure to be followed by a short-term car park, opening again at 7am. But the emphasis will be on short duration shopper parking.

One employee, who did not want to be named, said: "We have to be at our work posts before 9am and the on-road parking around the town is sufficient for two hour periods only. That means we have to keep our eye on the time and move our cars to another location. I cannot afford to keep feeding money into a machine every day."

Head of Visible Services for the Vale of Glamorgan Council Miles Punter responded: "The parking proposals currently being implemented by the council should assist in protecting commercial activity in the town centre in the run up to Christmas and beyond.

"They are necessary to ameliorate the loss of parking on the Holton Road site due to be redeveloped by the Wilkinson organisation and also for the loss of parking during the next stages of the Town Hall development.

"The whole issue of town centre car parking and, in particular parking displacement, is a complex one. The council's arrangements will therefore be kept under constant review and issues such as its improved use, or otherwise, will be noted and, if necessary, amendments introduced.