Free parking for shoppers across Carmarthenshire may become a New Year resolution not a Christmas present as in past years.
The council’s executive board will consider on Monday (Nov 5) the bonus of free parking at all public car parks January 2-8 for shoppers at a cost of about £28,000.
A report to the executive suggests careful consideration had been given to free car parking and it had been noted car parks were always full in the run up to Christmas and it made more sense that shoppers were encouraged to town centres at the quieter period to help traders in a quieter period.
The report says that whilst difficult economic conditions prevail and regeneration works continues across the county, the council had continued to support town centres.
There was currently free car parking at selected car parks in Llanelli and Ammanford at 10am for up to four hours every day. Rural towns continued to benefit from lower charging bands and Carmarthen enjoyed the popular park and ride service.
In past years providing pre Christmas free public car park parking over the tradition ally busy period for town centres had only caused pressure on road space and a loss of £70,000 of revenue.
The report concludes: “Free parking in the New Year in the three county towns would strike a balance between managing space and providing a more targeted economic stimulus.”
Car park research had shown the two weeks post Christmas were quieter trading periods so the new arrangement could provide the greater benefit to Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford.
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