Plans to press ahead with Car Parking charges in the Vale of Glamorgan have been described as “tone deaf” by Vale Conservatives.
Thousands of shops have been forced to close throughout the Covid-19 crisis, with many residents furloughed by employers - or facing the prospect of losing their livelihoods altogether.
However, local Conservatives have called on the council to drop the plans indefinitely so that an assessment can be made of the financial impact on the local economy as a result of the pandemic.
They’ve called the decision “hugely insensitive”, and urged residents to make their views known to the Labour-run council.
Leader of the Vale Conservative Group, Cllr Vincent Bailey, said:
“The decision to go ahead with car parking charges now is completely tone deaf, and it’s hugely insensitive to the financial plight facing Vale residents.Thousands of businesses throughout the Vale have been forced to close for months now, with no hope of income - and the impact that Covid-19 has had on them and the wider community is only starting to be felt. The UK Government has made significant sums available to the Welsh Government to deal with the outbreak, and this money must be passed on to local councils so that they can support communities to get back on their feet.”
Cllr Vince Driscoll - Shadow Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services & Transport - said:
“We were prepared to give the Labour administration credit for toning down the original proposals for car parking - but this is deeply disappointing. We cannot support moving ahead with car parking charges at such a difficult time for the local economy, and we would urge residents to make their views known to the Labour-run council.”
Details of where being charged are here
https://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/en/our_council/legal_notices/Legal-N…
Any objections you may have to this proposal must be submitted to the Director of Environment & Housing (Ref. IF922) in writing by 19th June 2020 and must contain the grounds upon which you object.