There are plans to charge for parking at two Welsh seaside towns – business owners are furious

Barry: Business owners are really upset about the council’s plan to charge for parking in Barry and Penarth. They think it’ll scare off customers and hurt their sales. The Vale of Glamorgan Council met recently and decided to move forward with these charges, which will hit popular spots like Barry Island and Penarth seafront.

Right now, the council is facing a big budget gap of £14.8 million for the next year. They believe these parking fees could help bring in around £500,000. But locals and business owners are pushing back hard against this idea.

Louis Ross, who runs a shop called Barrybados, mentioned that a lot of his customers are locals. If they have to pay for parking every time they visit, they might not come as often, which means less money spent in his shop.

Parking charges will be introduced at several locations, including The Knap and Bron Y Mor in Barry, and Penarth Cliff Walk. On-street parking fees will also affect various roads in Barry Island and Penarth.

The council claims that the money from these charges will help keep the beaches clean and maintain facilities. They also say that parking season tickets will still be available for locals and regular visitors, but not for the new on-street areas.

Louis pointed out that residents already pay a lot in council tax, and they shouldn’t have to pay more just to enjoy their local area. He feels that locals should have some free parking options to keep businesses thriving year-round.

There’s been a lot of frustration among residents, especially with rising council taxes and new charges popping up everywhere. A campaign against similar parking charges was launched back in 2019, and the council eventually dropped those plans. Now, it seems like they’re trying to push these new charges through quickly.

John Zeraschi, who owns Giovanni’s at Barry Island, echoed these concerns. He believes that the parking fees will drive customers away and hurt local businesses. He’s been around long enough to know that summer visitors aren’t enough to keep shops afloat; it’s the regulars who really matter.

The proposed parking fees are pretty steep, with charges starting at £2.50 for up to two hours and going up to £10 for all day. John is worried that if his sales drop, he’ll have to cut back on staff, which isn’t good for anyone.

During the council meeting, officials said they want to maintain the high standards of places like Barry Island, but that comes with a cost. They’re trying to balance the needs of residents and the upkeep of these popular spots.

Another idea on the table is to make residential parking permits digital, which could save some money on admin costs. But for now, the focus is on how these new parking charges will impact the community.