Council's soaring car park fees leave nearby Orme site swamped

NOW IT'S BEEN FORCED TO ACT AND BRING IN FEES ITSELF

- By ANDREW FORGRAVE Countryside and Tourism Editor

SOARING fees at Conwy's public car parks are "displacing" demand to other facilities in the county, it's been claimed.

Parking charges were this introduced this month at a popular spot on Llandudno's Great Orme that's long been free to use.

Llandudno Snowsports Centre (LSC) said it had little option but to start charging because it was being swamped by visitors deterred by rising fees at the council's summit car park.

Manager Nigel Treacy said others were gravitating to the site from town centre car parks. "Some people were being sent here by local hotels," he said. "They recommended us because the parking was free. We know this because we heard it from hotel guests."

From the start of June, a parking charge of £2 for up to six hours was introduced, overseen by Parking Eye. Some regulars have already been caught out by the switch: last week a dad watching his son on the ski slope complained of receiving a £100 fine - reduced to £60 if paid within 28 days. "I always thought it was free as have never paid before," he said online.

In recent years Conwy Council has steadily upped parking charges to off-set dwindling income from the Welsh Government. Prices vary by location but fees typically start at £1.50 for one hour, up to £7.50 for four hours. Some promenade parking now starts at £5.50.