Parking charges to be introduced at several sites

PARKING charges will be introduced at several car parks in Carmarthenshire where you can currently leave your car for free, despite a petition signed by nearly 2,000 people.

- RICHARD YOULE Senior local democracy reporter

Cabinet members have decided to implement the charges from 2025-26 at nine car parks in Kidwelly, Burry Port, Llansteffan, Ferryside, Llanelli and Llanybydder.

They said the move would bring the car parks in line with others in towns like Llandeilo, Newcastle Emlyn and St Clears, and that the charges compared favourably with car parks owned by neighbouring authorities.

A report before cabinet added that if all parking at council car parks was free, services would have to be cut or council tax increased to offset the costs of maintaining and paying business rates for them.

Cllr Edward Thomas, cabinet member for transport, waste and infrastructure services, said: “The proposed charges are designed to offset these costs while remaining competitive with other neighbouring authorities.”