Free parking in Ammanford confirmed (From South Wales Guardian)

Free parking in Ammanford confirmed

8:00am Thursday 2nd August 2012 in News

IT WILL cost Carmarthenshire county council between £9,000 and £10,000 to introduce temporary free parking in Ammanford, officers have revealed.

Confirming that motorists would be able to park free at the Wind Street, Hall Street and Baltic car parks, director of technical services Richard Workman said such a scheme mirrored those in Llanelli and Carmarthen, where extensive streetworks had been undertaken.

“This means that 30 per cent of parking space in Ammanford will be free for four hours every day from 10am,” he told members of the executive board.

“It will cost us as an authority between £9,000 and £10,000 in lost revenue but, given the extensive works in Quay Street and the £250,000 refurbishment of Ammanford bus station, we think this is an appropriate way to encourage people to use the town centre.”

Mr Workman added that parking charges in Ammanford compared favourably with towns in other parts of the county and that the temporary scheme would continue until the twin projects were completed “in October or November”.

Cllr Colin Evans said the local authority had considered the observations of traders as well as a petition handed in to County Hall.

“We are living in difficult times and the disruption caused by this work is not going to help,” he said.

“One trader told me he had experienced a 30 per cent downturn in business – hopefully this scheme will go a long way to balancing the situation.”

Council leader Kevin Madge said the situation would be reviewed before the end of the year.

“We’re trying our best for traders and one of the worst summers on record hasn’t helped,” he said.