What About The Rest of Wales?

Which Welsh Councils issue Residents’ Parking Permits and at what cost?

We thought it would be interesting to find out how many Welsh Councils have taken over Civil Parking Enforcement responsibilities from the police; which have provided designated Residents’ Parking Zones, how many issue Residents Parking Permits and at what costs?

It seems the results are very different throughout the country and although our survey is not complete, it does give some indication of the levels of enforcement and charges currently being levied.

We are very concerned that Powys County Council do not impose any exorbitant charges when (and if) they introduce Residents’ Parking Permits. Any charges must reflect the costs of the scheme’s administration but not charged at a rate which will be regarded as untoward and prohibitive by those affected. Councillors should remember that 2012 is an election year!

Discussions with officers responsible for parking in councils all over Wales have proved illuminating. Some authorities have gone to considerable lengths to produce carefully thought out schemes that cater for residents’ demands; others have muddled along or merely inherited historic rules.

It was interesting to note that in Blaenau Gwent, it was considered more important that Civil Enforcement Officers should be responsible for policing the ever present problem of dog fouling rather than car parking.

Communications between the various authorities and some commonality could be to the advantage of all!

In passing, it has been reported that free parking in council run Car Parks has been introduced by various councils in Wales for a variety of reasons, and some only in the lead up to Christmas. Most are convinced however that free car parking will give a “boost to businesses in town centres”. It is interesting to note that the opinion that the presence of and levels of car parking charges have a direct effect on people's shopping preferences, seems to be a 'taken'.

Well done Llanelli, Wrexham, Newport, Caerphilly and Gwynedd. A black mark against Carmarthen which is planning to introduce parking meters to the town centre, a plan bitterly opposed by local businesses.


Blaenau Gwent
Police remain responsible for Civil Parking Enforcement; Council Enforcement Officers responsible for controlling dog fouling.
Residents’ Parking Permits
1 Residents Parking Permit permitted per household
Cost £ nil

Bridgend County Borough Council
Council taking over CPE from Police, awaiting cabinet approval.
Residents’ Parking Permits
Designated Residents’ Parking Zones
Holders of Residents’ Parking Permits also permitted to park in some Pay and Display car parks. Residents’ Parking Permits limited to one per resident
Cost £ nil

Caerphilly County Borough Council,
Police responsible for Civil Parking Enforcement; Council now looking into taking over. “When rather than if”
Residents’ Parking Permits
Designated Residents’ Parking Zones
Currently
2 Residents Parking Permits per household
Cost £ nil
Proposed
2 Residents Parking Permits per household
Cost £30 p.a.

Cardiff County Council
Council responsible for CPE
Residents’ Parking Permits
Designated Residents Parking Zones
Cost First Permit £5 p.a.
Second Permit £30 p.a.
Third Permit £45 p.a.
Fourth Permit (or more) £60 p.a.

Carmarthenshire County Council
Council responsible for CPE
Residents Parking Permits
Designated Residents’ Parking Zones
2 Residents Parking Permits permitted per household plus Visitors’ Parking Permit.
Cost £30 p.a.
Care Permit granted to Health Visitors etc.
Cost £ nil
Business Permit
Cost £50 p.a.

Ceredigion County Council
Police gave up responsibility for Civil parking Enforcement in May 2011and Council will be taking over in May 2012.
No Residents’ Parking Zones or Residents Parking Permits will be introduced for at least six months after CPE responsibilities are taken over.

Conwy County Borough Council
Council responsible for CPE., currently looking into expanding Residents’ Parking scheme.
Residents’ Parking Permits
Designated Residents’ Parking Zones
Residents’ Parking Permits holders are permitted to park in some limited waiting areas and some Pay and Display car parks.
2 Residents Parking Permits permitted per household
Cost First permit £ nil
Second Permit £50 p.a.

Denbighshire County Council
Council responsible for CPE
Residents’ Parking Permits
Designated Residents Parking Zones
1 or 2 Residents Parking Permits permitted per household, depenent upon available parking spaces.
Cost £25 p.a.

Flintshire County Council
Council have not yet adopted CPE, envisaged take over “next Summer”.
No designated Residents’ Parking Zones

Gwynedd
Council responsible for CPE
Residents’ Parking Permits
Designated Residents Parking Zones
Cost £50 p.a.

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council
Civil Parking Enforcement being taken over from police on Jan 12 2012
Residents’ Parking Permits
Designated Residents Parking Zones
2 Residents Parking Permits or 1 Residents’ and 1 Visitors’ Permit permitted per household.
Cost. £34. p.a.

Monmouthshire County Council
Council responsible for CPE
Residents’ Parking Permits
Designated Residents Parking Zones
1 Residents Parking Permit permitted per household
Cost £30 p.a.

Neath Port Talbot
Council responsible for CPE
Residents’ Parking Permits
Designated Residents Parking Zones
2 Residents Parking Permit permitted per household
Cost £20 p.a.

Newport
Council responsible for CPE
Residents’ Parking Permits
Designated Residents Parking Zones
2 Residents Parking Permits permitted per household
Cost £10 p.a.

Pembrokeshire County Council
Council responsible for CPE
Residents’ Parking Permits
Over 50 designated Residents Parking Zones
Residents Parking Permits
Cost £35 p.a.

Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council
Police responsible for Civil Parking Enforcement; Council taking over “on the horizon”.
Residents Parking Permits
Designated Residents Parking Zones
Residents’ parking Permits limited to 1 per person
Cost £ nil

City and County of Swansea County Hall
Council responsible for CPE
Residents’ Parking Permits
Designated Residents Parking Zones
2 Residents Parking Permits permitted per household
Cost £ nil

Vale of Glamorgan
Council responsible for CPE
Residents' Parking Permits
1 Residents Parking Permit permitted per person
Cost £ nil

Wrexham
Council responsible for CPE
Residents’ Parking Permits
Designated Residents Parking Zones planned, Policy “in situ”
Planned cost £60 p.a.