Parking charges 'put off trade'

The streets in Dolgellau are narrow making parking difficult

'Expensive' parking is ruining trade for shop keepers in Dolgellau, Gwynedd, business leaders claim.

Shopkeepers want more flexibility to the current charge of £7.50 to park for over four hours at the Marian car park, just off the narrow town centre.

A spokesman for Gwynedd Council said parking charges were the same throughout the county.

People parking in nearby Anglesey Council's carparks pay £2.00 for over four hours and £3.00 in Conwy Council.

Amanda Morgans who owns the Waterloo gift shop in Dolgellau said she and another shopkeeper had organised a petition about the parking charges.

"We got 300 names on it and presented it to the county council but nothing has been done," she said.

People don't bother coming into the centre of town Amanda Morgans, gift shop owner

"These charges are stopping people from coming here and they end up driving elsewhere where it is cheaper to park," she added.

Shop owner Nia Medi said her shop's situation meant that customers often visited on the way back to the carpark, and often had to rush out when they realised their parking time was up.

"People stop, realise how much it is to park here and just pay enough in for a quick visit," she said.

Business people claim the parking charges are too high

Fish Tales, pet food shop-owner Angela Jones agreed.

"Once people come into town and visit a couple of shops they rush back to their cars.

"The council don't seem to realise they'll end up with a dead town," she added.

"A car is essential for those who live outside the town, so people are being forced to pay these charges," said resident John Owen Morgan.

Gareth Jones said the charges had made it easier to pop into the town centre because what limited spaces there were for parking were being kept clear, it was people who visited the town for the day who were suffering.

"The problem before the charges were put up, and the new traffic wardens started, was that some people took advantage of the system and parked everywhere," he added.

Visitors Kenneth and Gillian James from Lymington in Hampshire said they had regularly visited the town for 10 years.

"We love it here but I can see that the parking charges could be a bit of a deterrent," said Mr James.

"With other increases in the cost of living, I can see that fewer visitors would make life harder for businesses in the area," he added.

A spokesman for Gwynedd Council said the charges were brought in last year and were standard throughout the county at £5.30 for short-stay car parks during the winter and £7.50 during the summer.

He said the aim of the charges was to support "turnover in short stay car parks, which in turn would support the viability of shops and businesses in villages and towns throughout Gwynedd".

"Whilst we accept that even the most modest charge increases would not be welcomed, it should be noted that this is the first time in more than a decade for some of these parking charges to the changed, and that the necessary adjustments have been kept to a minimum," he added.