PARKING charges are being considered for Barry town centre, a move which could "threaten the future" of the Holton Road area.

A question asked at a meeting of the Vale council meeting last month revealed that a report due to go before Cabinet in early 2015 will "propose the introduction of charging in a number of car parks in the Vale of Glamorgan".

The areas being targeted for parking charges are Barry and Cowbridge town centres.

In response to question posed by town centre ward councillor Ian Johnson, Councillor Gwyn John, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Parks, Culture and Sport Development confirmed that the report identifies that there would be a "benefit to introducing parking charges".

The report is the result of a study into off-street and on-street parking in Barry town centre carried out over a week in July 2013. The resulting report assesses the availability in Barry town centre of parking and considers the impact parking charges would have on town centre car parks.

Councillor John said: "It also recognises that Barry and Cowbridge are two different towns from a parking perspective and that the setting of charges will have an effect on how car parks are generally utilised within both areas.

"However, the report generally identifies that there is benefit to introducing parking charges in terms of managing and controlling the turnover within individual car parks to obtain the optimum usage."

Plaid Cymru councillor Ian Johnson has responded to this with a warning that parking charges could upset "Barry town centre's delicate balance". He has called for a full consultation with local people and business owners before any proposals are tabled.

“Town centres have faced a very hard time in recent years, with the growth of out of town shopping and the recession" he said. “It is important that the Vale Council does everything it can to support our town centres, helping businesses to thrive and employ local people and draw in shoppers so that they spend their money locally, creating more jobs.

“That’s why I’m very worried about the effect of introducing car parking charges in Vale-owned car parks.

“We know from other towns around Wales that car park charging can have a negative effect upon local trade and that is the last thing that the Vale Council should want at this point in time, when local shops need all the help that they can get."

Cllr Johnson went on to question why Barry and Cowbridge were being targeted for charges, when Penarth and Llantwit Major were not.

He added that parking charges may have the knock on effect of more people choosing to park in residential streets and avoid charges.

"We could also have a 'displacement' effect, where shoppers try to avoid car parks by parking in town centre streets and make parking more difficult for local residents," he said.

“Holton Road is a varied shopping location that can be improved by increasing the different types of shops.

"I am pleased the council now have a town centre co-ordinator who is working with local business owners to improve the quality of the Holton Road area, and this good work shouldn’t be undone elsewhere in the council.”