A COUNCIL have announced a free parking pilot will be introduced in Ammanford, Llandeilo and Llandovery.

Periods of free parking in short stay car parks owned by Carmarthenshire County Council are being introduced as part of the new initiative.

Visitors to the county’s main towns will be able to park for free if they arrive and stay within certain hours, starting from this week.

The initiative has been launched by the county council in a bid to support town centre traders.

Visitors will still need to obtain a ticked and display it as normal, however the ticket will be issued with no charge at certain times of the day in certain locations.

In Ammanford the free parking period will run from Mondays to Fridays, between 3.15pm and 6pm.

In Llandeilo and Llandovery parking will be free on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 10am and 2pm.

Similar offers will run in Carmarthen, Llanelli, Newcastle Emlyn and St Clears.

The pilot is in addition to the five free parking days the council offers town centres every year, which makes over 15,000 free spaces available to complement pre-planned events.

So far this year, the council has provided free parking on a number of days, including in all its car parks along the Tour of Britain route in September; for the Carmarthen Gwyl Canol Y Dre in July; a fair trade awareness day in Newcastle Emlyn in March; and a Food and Drink Festival in Llanelli last weekend.

The council has also supported the Llanelli Business Improvement District team, Ymlaen Llanelli, on a ‘Park for a Pound’ scheme at the town’s multi-storey car park on Saturdays from now until the New Year.