We could lose thousands if we lose our free parking

TRADERS SAY THE LOSS OF TWO HOURS FREE PARKING WOULD BE A HUGE LOSS AND COULD PUT SOME AT RISK OF GOING OUT OF BUSINESS 04:00, 01 Jun 2025Updated 10:32, 01 Jun 2025 Traders have opposed

plans to strip a Welsh high street of free parking, claiming it could cost them thousands in lost trade. The car parks surrounding Whitchurch High Street in Cardiff currently have two hours

of free parking, allowing locals and visitors to shop without additional charge. The council put a plan to abolish this free car parking in car parks such as Merthyr Road Pay and Display,

and Penlline Road Pay and Display, though it has since U-turned on plans to completely scrap it and instead has offered 30 minutes free. _Never miss a Cardiff story by __signing up to our

daily newsletter here_ But business owners operating from the High Street claim the plans would damage their business. Alwen Lewis, owner of Iechy Da, an eco-friendly refill healthy food

shop, said she estimates that the decrease in footfall would cause her business an loss of around £7,000 per year. "This is especially concerning for businesses like myself, as my

profits mean I am earning less than minimum wage as it is. My staff earn more money than I do, and that is how I keep my business open," she said. "I figured out that the customers

I would be losing if that happens are the customers that are spending under £2. If I lose, then I have calculated that I would lose about £7,000 per year. "Those are the customers that

come in and spend under £2 but they are popping in all the time and it mounts up. Now why would you spend another pound on parking if you are only buying a pound worth of porridge. You

wouldn't, would you? It would double the value of what you're buying." Article continues below 1,386 individuals have signed a petition against the proposed changes with

people being asked to give their views on the plans on [email protected]. Last week Cardiff council announced a U-turn on plans to scrap all the free parking from its

city car parks and announced some is set to remain with up to 30 minutes free as well as the possibility of a reduction in Sunday parking charges. "We thought we were being extremely

reasonable in our response," Alwen said. "What we as traders are asking for is an hour free, rather than two, because within an hour you can support maybe three local businesses

within that time. "You can pop and get your fruit and veg, you can pop here to get porridge and pasta, and then you could pop to the post office or grab a newspaper. "Having a

shop, or an independent business like this, anyone can tell you, does not make a living at all - you're not doing it for the money." Councillor Marc Palmer said the council would

propose 30 minutes free instead of zero after listening to local concerns. He said: "Following feedback from local residents, businesses, and councillors on the proposed removal of the

two hours free parking in some district car parks, Cardiff Council will be making a change. "We’re pleased to confirm that, instead of removing free parking entirely, the Council is now

looking to offer the first 30 minutes free at the affected car parks. This will help support quick visits such as school drop-offs, collecting prescriptions, takeaways, or picking up a

newspaper — without the need to pay. "They will also be keeping other measures, like community group permits, to help reduce the impact of the changes. "To implement this, they

will need to carry out a revised Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) consultation — details will be shared soon, so until further notice the current two free hours will remain." A spokesman

for Cardiff Council said: "Following public consultation on removing two hours of free parking in specific district shopping centres, the council is now progressing a new traffic

regulation order (TRO) to allow free parking for 30 minutes at these car parks. "While the legal order is still progressing two hours of free parking will remain in place at these

locations." Article continues below "In addition to the proposed 30 minutes free parking at these locations, as part of the TRO process the council will also be consulting on

proposals to reduce parking charges on Sundays – where applicable, issuing additional weekend-only season tickets, increasing the charge for long-stay parking, and extending the time period

for pay and display from 5pm to 6pm. "At this stage these are only proposals and they will be determined through the legal process. Further information will be provided when the legal

process is complete."