Three out of four people consider car parking charges as the determining factor as to whether or not they visit towns like Barry and Cowbridge.
This incredible statistic, unearthed by The AA after they spoke to over 18,688 drivers recently, is why the communities of Barry and Cowbridge came out in big numbers over the weekend to campaign against the arbitrary introduction of ill-timed parking charges.
I am very surprised that the Vale Council is attempting to introduce such divisive policies to the Vale. We should all be working for the same aim – all of our towns and villages to thrive, not cherry picking some over others. But as it stands Barry and Cowbridge could be at a significant disadvantage to Llantwit Major and Penarth. People don’t think it is fair, and I agree with them.
I am encouraged to see that the community has come together on this issue. Many people from Llantwit Major have contacted me to express deep concern about car parking charges, as they feel that they will soon be next.
The Vale Council cabinet members have chosen to introduce car parking charges without consulting communities – despite the purely speculative reasoning, and serious implications. Any money that may or not be raised is a tiny fraction of income versus the substantial annual budget that the authority spends. The council could look at the way it spends a very large budget, and seek cost savings rather than adding costs and pushing the burden on to hand selected local communities.
The AA determined that nine out of 10 council tax payers felt charges are introduced to simply raise cash for the local authority. We have all visited towns around the country where you can see the visible impact car parking charges have had – they cause unnecessary hassle for visitors, it raises comparatively very little income and the costs of implementing outweigh the gain. The light is simply not worth the candle.
With never ending increases in council tax foisted upon Vale residents, council tax payers expect the local authority to take a responsible approach to helping our towns thrive – not hastily implementing car parking charges without talking to residents, traders and the local business and community groups.
Vale residents who have contacted me, and those I have met, all share a consensus. Changes should support our local shops and high streets, and not be used to generate cash for a Vale Council with significant budgets.
Our local shops and high streets are what make our communities, and I am giving my full support to those concerned about these plans. The Vale Council has an opportunity to support our towns. I am grateful to the Councillors from across the Vale who understand the problem of displacement, lack of consultation and impact on the surrounding communities of Barry and Cowbridge.
A petition has been started in Barry, I cannot overestimate the strength of feeling so I will be adding details to my Facebook page. A poorly planned and poorly timed scheme by the Vale Council should allow for the feelings of the community to be considered. I am determined for important feedback to be heard and call on the Vale Council to do what is best for our towns and not what, in a short sighted manner, is deemed to be best for them.