Widow condemns parking charges

Ruby Holmes has started collecting a petition against the changes

A widow has accused a council of reneging on an agreement she claims has stood for nearly 50 years over a free car park.

Powys County Council plans to charge for parking on land donated to Llanidloes by Ernest Holmes.

Ruby Holmes claims the deeds prove her husband gave it to the town in 1959, but she says he agreed with officials the land would offer free parking.

The authority says anyone is welcome to comment in the consultation exercise on the planned changes.

Part of the deal was an agreement that the land would be used for free car parking Ruby Holmes

The Church Place car park is one of a number throughout the county for which the charges are planned.

"There were 13 small houses on the land until the 1950s, but these were knocked down and my husband then donated the land to the town," said Mrs Holmes, who is the landlady of the Crown and Anchor pub in Llanidloes.

"Part of the deal was an agreement that the land would be used for free car parking.

"But after all these years the council appears as though it could be going back on the agreement.

"I've already started collecting names on a petition against the plans by the council.

'Suffering'

"My husband, who died in 1998, would be upset by the proposal by Powys.

"And it will not encourage as many cars into the town centre.

"We're already suffering because we've lost the major employer in the town, KTH - this would be another blow."

A spokesman for Powys Council said the authority was carrying out a consultation exercise on a draft proposal for a number of car parks in the county.

"Anyone wishing to make representations about this draft proposal should make them by 1200 BST on Monday, 23 August, he said.

"The draft proposal and representations will then be discussed by the highways and local services subject committee at the next appropriate meeting.

"If a petition is received by the authority by 23 August concerning Church Place car park, this will be considered along with other representations by the committee."

If the plans are approved, motorists will have to pay 20p to park for up to four hours and 50p for over four hours.