2:40pm Thursday 15th July 2010
Controversial new car parking charges in Pembrokeshire pulled in more than £50,000 in three months, the Western Telegraph can reveal.
Pembrokeshire County Council introduced the charges at ten sites across the county on April 1st, despite widespread opposition.
Up to June 30th, £50,715 (gross income) had been collected, with Gordon Street in Pembroke Dock raking in the most cash – £16,593.
The second highest earning was Narberth’s Townsmoor car park with £12,387 followed by Fishguard West Street (£6,027). Market Square in Milford Haven brought in the smallest amount, just £199.
Former council Labour leader, Joyce Watson, now a regional Assembly Member, has been a fierce critic of the charges. She declared them ‘a tax on the people’.
She asked: “Are they going to ringfence that money for investment in the town centres where they have raised this tax?”
Mrs Watson said it was a local authority’s duty to support local businesses and added: “Big companies come in with free parking and they are being given an unfair advantage. This is an area where they [Pembrokeshire County Council] can support local business. This is just not local business friendly at a time when everybody knows that they need as much help as possible.”
County Council leader Cllr John Davies said the money raised so far had “matched the financial predictions that were originally anticipated”.
“This reflects the acceptance of most people to pay what are modest charges in comparison to other towns in west Wales,” Cllr Davies said.
Last week the council’s cabinet was told that the council will spend £60,000 on pay and display car parking machines between January this year and March 2011.
The report recommending charging at the sites cost the council £67,000.
Money collected at new car park charging sites, April 1st to June 30th. Fishguard: Parc y Shwt: £3,834 West street: £6,027.
Milford Haven: Robert Street: £1,422 Lower Charles Street: £1,208 Market Square: £199 Narberth: Townsmoor: £12,387 Newport: Long Street: £4,442 Pembroke: South Quay: £3,816 Pembroke Dock Gordon Street: £16,593 Lower Meyrick Street: £787.
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