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.

Answers to Cllr. Ratcliffe's Questions

Revealing Answers to Cllr Ratcliffe's Questions

Following the questions asked by Cllr. Gareth Ratcliffe of Powys County Council, Cllr. G G Hopkins, Portfolio holder for Environment and Regulation, has provided the following response.

For interest, percentages have been added.

These are results after only six months of Powys being responsible for Civil Parking Enforcement and from the total monies received, it must be presumed that costs to date, including wages for nine CEOs, their vehicles, travel and expenses, plus of course administration, supervision etc. etc., have not been covered by income!

Does this mean that extra income must be found through increasing enforcement and more tickets being issued, or would a more rational approach be to cut costs? Perhaps the best approach might be to cut the greatest cost – the wages and associated costs of the nine Civil Enforcement Officers?

1. The number of tickets (Penalty Charge Notices PCN's) issued - 2962

2. The number of off-street tickets (PCNs) issued - 979 (33%)

3. The number of on-street tickets (PCNs) issued - 1983 (67%)

4. The number of tickets paid within 14 days.
(i.e. PCN's paid within discount period) - 2075 (70%)

5. The number of appeals (received) - 555 (19%)

6. The number of successful appeals - 180 (32% of appeals to date)
The appeal process takes time, it will be interesting to see the number and percentage of appeals that are registered (and subsequently succeed) over a longer period.

7. How much income has this generated for the council - £70,969.66

Draw your own conclusions!

Questions to the Council

6 months since Powys took over CPE from the Police

On 6th October, almost six months to the day since Powys County Council took over responsibility for Civil Parking Enforcement from Dyfed-powys Police, Councillor Gareth Ratcliffe forwarded the following question to Powys County Council Cabinet Business Manager Stepehen Boyd for the attention of the Member for Highways.

It has now been over six months since the council took over Civil Parking Enforcement. Can the Cabinet Member report back on progress and the following:

1. The number of tickets (Penalty Charge Notices) issued
2. The number of off-street tickets (PCNs) issued
3. The number of on-street tickets (PCNs) issued
4. The number of tickets (PCNs) paid within 14 days
5. The number of appeals
6. The number of successful appealers
7. How much income has this generated for the council

Cllr. Gareth Ratcliffe
Hay-on-Wye Ward

Hopefull this will give us some idea of the financial effectiveness of Civil Parking Enforcement and how many of PCNs issued are subject to appeal. As yet, it will difficult to ascertain the percentage of successful appeals against the number issues, but this figure must be known in order to get some idea of the income generated against the effort of issuing them. Only time will tell!

Money made from Car parks in Powys

Parking Bays in Powys and 2010 – 2011 Income

Brecknockshire

TOTALS 21 Car Parks – 1,794 Parking Bays – Total Income £508,821
(£283.62 per Parking Bay)

Builth Wells population 2,352
The Groe 99 bays £42,500
Smithfield 193 bays £6,750
TOTAL 292 bays £49,250

1 bay per 8.05 people
Income £168.66 per bay £20.94 per head of population

Brecon population 7,901
Alexandra Road 23 bays £4,950
Canal Road 50 bays £9,975
Dinas Road 26 bays £10,560
(short stay) George Street 195 bays £101,243
Kensington 33 bays £15,424
Lorry/Coach Park 16 bays £3,986
Promenade 72 bays £11,350
Market Street 27 bays £11,233
New County Hall 75 bays £8,650
Scout Lane 17 bays £5,300
Theatre 70 bays £10,890
The Watton 250 bays £45,340
(short stay) Viaduct 35 bays £23,100
TOTAL 889 bays £262,001

1 bay per 8.89 people
Income £294.71 per bay £33.16 per head of population

Crickhowell population 1,503
Beaufort Street 115 bays £43,670
TOTAL 115 bays £43,670

1 bay per 13.07 people
Income £379.74 per bay £29.06 per head of population

Hay-on-Wye population 1,467
Oxford Road 358 bays £127,486
(short stayMarket Square 40 bays £12,435
TOTAL 398 bays £139,921

1 bay per 3.69 people
Income £351.56 per bay £95.38 per head of population

Ystradgynlais population 9,004
Heol Maesydre 73 bays £7,750
Heol Eglwys 27 bays £6,250
TOTAL 100 bays £14,000

1 bay per 90.04 people
Income £140.00 per bay £1.55 per head of population


Montgomeryshire

TOTALS 9 Car Parks – 2,075 Parking Bays – Total Gross Income £521,205
(£251.18 per Parking Bay)

Llanidloes population 2,796
Mount Street 45 bays £9,450
TOTAL £9,450

1 bay per 62.13 people
Income £210.00 per bay £3.38 per head of population


Machynlleth population 2,147
Bro Dyfi 45 bays
Maengwyn 298 bays £52,435
TOTAL 343 bays £52,435

1 bay per 6.26 people
Income £152.87 per bay £24.42 per head of population

Newtown population 12,783
Back Lane 477 bays £135,450
Gravel 275 bays £66,340
(short stay) Ladywell 53 bays £40,150
TOTAL 805 bays £241,940

1 bay per 15.88 people
Income £300.55 per bay £18.93 per head of population

Welshpool population 6,269
Berriew Street 535 bays £89,300
Church Street 307 bays £92,100
(short stay) Severn Stars 40 bays £35,980
TOTAL 882 bays £217,380

1 bay per 7.11 people
Income £246.46 per bay £34.68 per head of population

Radnorshire

TOTALS 8 Car Parks – 584 Parking Bays – Total Gross Income £96,249
(£164.81 per Parking Bay)

Knighton population 1,489
Bowling Green Lane 175 bays £9,660
(short stay) Norton Arms 46 bays £15,230
TOTAL 221 bays £24,890

1 bay per 6.74 people
Income £112.62 per bay £16.72 per head of population

Llandrindod Wells population 5,024
High Street 118 bays £22,189
(short stay) Middleton Street 45 bays £14,375
Town Hall* £3,250
TOTAL 163 bays £39,814

1 bay per 30.82 people
Income £224.32 per bay £7.92 per head of population

Presteigne population 2,463
Hereford Street 38 bays £6,505
High Street 55 bays £6,450
TOTAL 93 bays £12,955

1 bay per 30.82 people
Income £139.30 per bay £5.26 per head of population

Rhayader population 2,075
Dark Lane 59 bays £18,650
TOTAL 59 bays £18,650

1 bay per 35.17 people
Income £316.10 per bay £8.99 per head of population

* Landrindod Wells Town Hall Car Park. No record of parking bays available.


NOTES

The above statistics are provided for interest only and one should be wary of drawing any particular conclusions from the results. Town Car Parks are used by residents and perhaps more importantly, by people visiting the town, whether for shopping or tourism.

High use of (and resulting income derived from) car parks may be due to any of a number of factors including:

Lack of alternative free off and/or on-street parking for both residents and visitors. Regular livestock market or other town centre activity.
Tourist and visitor traffic.
Successful town centre shopping/leisure attractions.
Poor local public transport resulting in increased private car usage.

The income figures were taken from Powys County Council records. Population figures were taken from several sources and may not be entirely accurate.


Powys County Council own (or are responsible for) an additional six (6) car parks controlled my nil-charging parking orders and an additional 30 car parks with no parking orders on them where no charges are made.

Car Park Charges

Car Parking Charges (where applicable) for both long and short term Car Parks are standardised across the county. (with listed exceptions)

Up to 1 hr. Up to 2 hrs. Up to 4 hrs. Over 4 hrs Overnight

Motor Cars £0.50 £1.00 £2.00 £2.50 nil
Vehicle & Trailer £1.50 £1.50 £3.00 £3.00 nil
Vehicles up to 3t £1.70 £2.30 £3.20 £3.20 nil
Vehicles over 3t £1.90 £2.70 £3.50 £4.20 nil

Llandrindod Wells Town Hall Car Park

Up to 1 hr. Up to 2 hrs.

Motor Cars £0.20 £0.50

Brecon Theatr Brycheinog

Up to 4 hrs. Over 4 hrs

£0.50 £1.00

Overnight & extended period Parking

Notices in Powys Car Parks do not mention any option of parking overnight or for extended periods. Parking is however permitted for periods longer than 24 hours by purchasing tickets to the value of the proposed stay in multiples of the Over 4 hour charge for each day of the proposed stay. The purchased tickets must be displayed in the vehicle in the normal manner such that purchase date and monies paid can be inspected by Civil Enforcement Officers and other authorised persons. Tourist Offices are able to advise visitors of this unpublicised facilty.

TEXT OF THE FINAL PROPOSALS

Click on any image to enlarge

Hurrah! The Final Proposal

Powys, the Ball's in Your Court Now

(If you can't read any of these plans, just click on them to enlarge in another window. See our next blog for the full text of the proposals)

Powys, The Balls in Your Court Now!

Well it's taken almost six months but we've finished at last.

Above are the plans that accompany our completed proposal showing the suggested RPZs,(Restricted Parking Zones to the unitiated!) that Councillor Gareth Ratcliffe will be presented to Powys County Council on 13th December on behalf of all at CRAP and the people of Hay-on-Wye.

We've kept our side of the bargain, now it's up to the officers and politicians at Powys to put our hard work to good use. Hopefully some of these proposals will be used as a blueprint for the promised countywide parking and traffic management investigation and proposals.

County elections are due next year and we shall be keeping a very close watch on what elected members do from this point forward. We've said it before, but we'll say it again

WATCH THIS SPACE!

Plans of New (Amended) Proposals

Important note

Parking Proposals for Hay-on-Wye

PLEASE LOOK AT OUR September 11th 2011 BLOGS:

Text of the Final Proposals

and

Hurrah The Final Proposals

We note a number of visitors to our Blog have been looking at our 8th August 2011 'Full Text of CRAP's Parking Proposals for Hay-on-Wye.'The final plans and proposals submitted to Powys County Council prepared for the meeting scheduled for September 2011 but postponed and eventually held in October 2011, can be found on our two blogs of 30th August 2011:

'Text of the Final Proposals'and for the accompanying plans:'Hurrah The Final Proposals'

Please look at these two entries for the proposals finally submitted.Other blogs listed the preliminary proposals which were open for discussion and amended as the result of comments received.