THE Vale of Glamorgan Council has published an FAQ on the proposed car parking charges.

It breaks down many of the questions Vale residents have about the possible new charges.

As the Penarth Times previously reported the proposed parking charges have proved contentious, with residents and traders hitting out at the plans.

A spokesperson for the council said at the time that charges were being planned because "maintaining the Vale’s car parks costs the council upwards of £300,000 each year and this does not include costs of managing resorts they support."

The questions and answers included in the report are below.

What areas in Penarth will be affected by the proposed charges?

Barry:

Kendrick Road, Thompson Street, Wyndham Street (All short stay).

Court Road Multi-storey (Long stay).

Harbour Road Main, Harbour Road Overflow, Nell’s Point (All resort).

Cold Knap (Coastal).

Porthkerry Park (Country Park).

Penarth:

Cliff Walk (Resort).

The Esplanade (Coastal).

Cosmeston Lake (Country Park).

Cowbridge: The Butts, Town Hall Square, Southgate (All short stay).

Southerndown & Ogmore: Cymlau, Brig-y-Don, Rivermouth (All resort).

Llantwit Major: Cwm Col Huw (Resort).

What are the proposed charges?

Short stay car parks: Monday to Saturday 8am to 6pm: Up to two hours free, up to three hours £1, up to four hours £2, up to five hours £5 and all day £6. Annual permits would be £160 for six months and £300 for 12 months.

Long stay car park:  Monday to Saturday 8am to 6pm:  Up to two hours free, up to three hours £1, up to four hours £2, up to five hours £4 and all day £5.

Permits would be £80 for six months and £150 for 12 months.

Country Parks car parks: Up to two hours parking for £1 and all day set at £3 with bus/coach parking at £10 all day. Charges would be all year around between 8am to 6pm seven days per week.

Annual permits would be £75 per car park.

Coastal car parks: Summer charges (all week between 8am and 8pm): up to one hour £1 and all day £3 with a £12 charge for buses and coaches. No charge in winter (November to February.

Resort car parks: Up to one hour £1, more than one hour £6. 4.01pm to 11pm: Up to one hour £1, more than one hour £3. Annual permits for each car park  would be £300.

On-street parking:  Up to two hours £2, up to three hours £4, up to four hours £6, up to five hours £8 and all day £10. Charges in the winter for Penarth Esplanade would be half the Summer charge.

What if I use these car parks regularly?

Parking permits will be available to purchase for all car parks, which will allow you to use the car parks from as little as 50p per day.

Permits are car park and vehicle specific, are non-transferable and have no monetary return value. They can be purchased outright or via direct debit. They will be cover either a six or 12-month period. A car parking permit will not guarantee you a parking space. There will be no permits available for on-street car parking (such as Barry Island street parking and Penarth Esplanade).

What if I am a resident in these areas?

Charges will apply for resident parking permits for all existing and new resident parking schemes.

The council provides resident parking schemes to assist residents and their visitors in being able to park reasonably close to their homes. Resident parking schemes will not guarantee you a parking space.

Residents would be able to apply for a parking permit so long as it is their primary address. Permits can be issued online or in person and only with recent proof of residence. They cover a 12-month period.

Fees for residents permits increase proportionately from £10 for one car and £20 for the second car. The proposed cost for a visitor permit will be £20. Only one visitor permit per dwelling per year is available.

What if I am disabled?

There will be no parking charges for disabled people who have a blue badge.

How will businesses be affected?

“A study undertaken by consultants MRUK for Welsh Government suggest that the actual availability of car parking is more important to those looking to park than the costs of  parking. The quality of the attractions available is also suggested to be more important to visitors.

“On-street parking availability at Barry Island is in very short supply due in part to the poor turnover of spaces. Charges help to control demand as they increase turnover, so rather than one family parking their car on-street and going to the beach for a few hours, there could be multiple families in multiple vehicles.

“It is our belief that many of the on-street parking spaces are currently taken up by traders and their staff, thus denying nearby parking opportunities for visitors or those who may wish to spend money in the shops on Barry Island.

“Staff and owners of business should be encouraged to park further away from the main amenities at Barry Island, if they must use their car, and this one of the reasons that a season ticket option for the car park has been developed.”

How will I pay for parking? 

Pay and display machines will be installed which which will accept coins and contactless payments but not bank notes. Tickets will be required for all stays regardless of whether a charge is levied.

How will the charges be enforced?

Vale of Glamorgan council is proposing to set up an in-house parking and environmental enforcement team, taking over from current provider 3GS.

Why are you not charging for parking at council offices?

“Charges are only being proposed where there is either shopper or visitor parking demand. The Civic Offices car park in Barry was included as part of the assessment of options by Capita.

“Their survey identified only 14 of the 140 spaces being used on a Saturday when Holton Road was at its busiest.

“The free weekend parking provision at the Civic Offices will continue which could prove useful for traders and their staff. ”

Why are you introducing car park charging at a time when many businesses are struggling?

“In this council revenue savings in excess of £50m have been identified and delivered since 2010-11. The directorate of environment and housing alone has seen a budget reduction of 26% (£8.1m) since 2015. The council now needs to save £3m in 2019-20 and a further £12m over the following two years just to keep within the available budget.

“Our preference is not to upset our residents or come into conflict with local businesses. However, we believe we must introduce parking charges now to help protect frontline services and ensure that those who are using the car parking provision pay for its use at source.”

Why are on-street parking charges being proposed at Barry Island and Penarth Esplanade?

“At both of these premier visitor locations ‘on-street’ car parking closest to the amenities is free, when there are off-street car parks further away that are chargeable (summer season only proposed in Penarth).

“This is an anomaly in itself, as there is a clear incentive to park ‘on-street’ rather than in the car park. Whilst there are a range of on-street parking restrictions in these areas these do little to assist parking demand or encourage use of the car parks nearby.

“It is very often difficult to find an ‘on-street’ parking space due to the high demand for these spaces and the all year round on-street charges at these locations reflects their popularity with visitors.

“Parking turnover will increase with on-street charges and congestion should reduce with more drivers choosing to use the car parks, rather than to dive around looking for an on-street space. Income, in the region of £100,000 per annum would also be realised from on-street parking charges and this would assist in covering the costs of the provision of parking with any surpluses used to fund parking and highway infrastructure and improved transport arrangements.”

Where are the traders going to park at Barry Island and Penarth Esplanade when on-street charges are brought in? 

“Traders are encouraged to park further away from the amenities, using the off-street car parks if necessary, where the purchase of an all-year-round parking tickets is an option. Alternatively they could utilise active travel alternatives to the motor car.”

Why are the proposed charges seasonal at the Knap and not at Barry Island?

“This reflects the popularity of the areas with visitors. Barry Island is busier all year round than the Knap area and the charges reflect this increased activity and the resources required to support it.”