Flintshire Council Pay and Display car parking charges could remain suspended until Summer

Car park charges in Flintshire Council owned pay and display car parks look likely to remain suspended until Summer. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Members of council’s cabinet will be asked to approve an extension to the suspension of car parking charges in town centre car parks across until 30 June 2021, when they meet on 16 March. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The Council suspended all Pay and Display car parking charges from 25 March 2020 at the start of the first lockdown. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Following the decision to allow non-essential shops to re-open from 22 June, the decision was made to extend the suspension of charges until 31 August and again until 31 December. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

It is now proposed to further extend the suspension of car parking charges until 30 June. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Flintshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Countryside, Councillor Carolyn Thomas, said: “Once again, I support this proposal and its intention to support the cross Council work to reopen our town centres and encourage shoppers and visitors to return and support local businesses.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“This approach will provide free parking as town centres start to welcome back shoppers and it will support an upturn in shopper footfall.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

It is recommended that short stay parking continue to be controlled by way of displaying a valid Pay and Display ticket in the window of the vehicle to ensure the turnover of vehicles in spaces closest to the town centre and all other restrictions, such as displaying a blue badge in a disabled space, will still apply. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The financial loss from suspending car parking charges has a direct impact on the Council’s budget and car parks continue to incur standing costs for items such as maintenance, street lighting and business rates which are paid to Government, even when the charges are not in place.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The loss of income from parking charges will continue to be included in the Council’s COVID-19 claims.” The council said.  ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Councillor Thomas added: “Before we reintroduce parking charges, which we may need to at some point due to loss of income and management of spaces we would like to look at non-contact methods of payment.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Other methods such as pay by phone or contactless card payment will be explored and a report brought back to Cabinet for consideration.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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