New car parking charges would add to 'problems' (From Western Telegraph)

New car parking charges would add to 'problems'

1:10pm Thursday 10th September 2009 in News By Nichole Sarra

A CONTROVERSIAL proposal to introduce new car parking charges will be on the agenda today (Thursday) at the environment overview and scrutiny committee meeting at county hall.

On Monday, Pembrokeshire County Council cabinet members discussed plans to increase existing charges in some car parks across the county and introduce new charges in Milford Haven, Pembroke Dock and Pembroke.

The proposals were initially put to the cabinet in July 2006 and, if passed, would see new charges for parking in Robert Street, Charles Street and Market Square in Milford Haven, at a rate of 10p an hour.

Deputy leader Jamie Adams said the car parking charges would allow far better management of town centres and far more effective footfall through the towns’ businesses.

“I remain convinced that car-parking charges are more than reasonable and will provide an effective future for car parking within the authority,” he said.

The cabinet agreed to implement the small charge increases, subject to the statutory consultation process, but referred the new charges back to the overview and scrutiny committee.

At Monday night’s Milford Haven town council meeting, the mayor Tony Eden told councillors that he had sent a strongly worded letter to county hall, detailing the council’s disapproval of the introduction of car parking charges in the town.

Councillor John Cole said: “We object in view of Milford Haven and its current situation as it is suffering with a lack of employment and retail outlets.”

He added that the charges would only exacerbate the problems currently faced by the town.

The town council agreed to write to the environment overview and scrutiny committee to reinforce the mayor’s original letter and the council’s objections and state that they would strongly oppose any imposition of charges.