Plans to introduce new parking charges throughout the Vale of Glamorgan would lead to fleecing residents for money, the council has been warned.

Vale of Glamorgan Council’s cabinet approved a consultation on plans to introduce new parking charges in Barry Island and town centres throughout the region.

The new charges, set out by Capita, would be introduced to car parks and on-street parking in Vale town centres, coastal car parks and two country parks. But a scrutiny committee has voted to tell the cabinet to park the plans – over fears the charges being proposed would be unfair on residents and would mean the council are running three separate consultations over the summer months.

Councillor Neil Moore told the Environment and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee on July 12: “It’s predicated on making money by fleecing our residents. I think that’s wrong.”

Charges would be introduced at a number of car parks in Barry, Cowbridge and Llantwit Major – and they would become either short stay or long stay car parks.

Both short and long stay car parks would be free for up to two hours. Short stay car parks would charge up to £6 all day, while long stay car parks would charge up to £5 all day.

On-street parking charges would be introduced town centres in Barry, Cowbridge, Llantwit Major and Penarth, and also on Barry Island and Penarth coastline.

And a number of coastal car parks, including Barry’s Cold Knap and Bron y Mor and Penarth’s Llwyn Passat and Cliff Walk, would also start charging.

Vale of Glamorgan Council says it needs to save £17million over the next three years – and maintenance and regulation of parking spaces costs £360,000 per year.

Cheryl Ockerby, who works in Barry, said proposals to introduce charges in the town centre’s multi-storey car park is not going to be popular.

“I know if these charges are introduced they will be looking to park in surrounding streets,” she told the meeting.

For on-street parking charges being proposed for Barry, she said: “For a full time worker this would cost them £160 minimum per month. Who would want to pay that? No one.

“Parking enforcers are only in Barry one day a week at the moment because they have to cover the whole of the Vale.

“At a time when the council is looking to reduce outgoings and increase income why don’t you ask residents for their ideas about this?”

The cost to park at Cosmeston or Porthkerry country parks would be £1 for up to two hours, £3 all day, and £10 for buses and coaches. This would be the same all year.

An annual season ticket for both country parks would cost £75. Parking is currently free at both sites.

Councillor Kevin Mahoney said Cosmeston is “under assault” from the council.

He said: “The public pay in council tax towards that park. If you impose any parking charges, even as little as 50p, the cars will line up Lavernock Road, they will totally fill up Cosmeston Park.

“We have residents of the Vale who use that park almost 360 days a year. You could be fining them £1,000 a year for using something they already pay for.

“It’s sheer and utter madness.”

Councillor Lis Burnett also said the consultation should not go ahead. She said: “I don’t think you can consult on a deeply flawed strategy. “I think the phrase is ‘squeezing it until the pips squeak’. That’s not the approach we should be taking with residents of the Vale.

“The residents of the Vale should be part of the solution and not treated as part of the problem.”

The meeting was told that no decision on whether the parking charges will be implemented has yet been taken by the council. No public meetings would be held on the plans – and consultations would be held via drop-in sessions, councillors were told.

Emma Reed, Vale of Glamorgan Council’s neighbourhood services and transport manager, said drop-in meetings have been a more effective way to consult with the public in the past.

She said: “It’s not that we don’t want to face people. We’re not hiding as officers. “I do find the drop-in sessions are more productive.” Councillor Matthew Lloyd, chairing the committee, said the consultation should go ahead to gauge the views of the public.

“I don’t think we’ve done it justice,” he said.