ACTION is needed to prevent Abergele and Pensarn’s older residents and businesses footing the bill for parking, a community leader says.

Cllr Andrew Wood, who represents the Gele ward on Conwy County Borough Council (CCBC), wants Abergele Town Council (ATC) to consider leasing or buying three local car parks.

He is eager to avoid the introduction of pay and display machines by CCBC on sites on Market Street and Pensarn beach, following on from the introduction of charges in Towyn and Colwyn Bay this month.

Cllr Wood said: “I’d want to see the car parks kept free and ATC either buy or lease them to do so.

“The changes will hit people on low incomes very hard, particularly older residents. If they spend £1 for, say, two hours, that adds up to £7 a week or £28 a month.

“In places with big retail like Llandudno, people might not begrudge paying to park, but here we need the convenience to encourage people to pop in. If they can’t do that, people will go elsewhere and the town’s business will suffer.”

The pay-and-display plans for Market Street and Pensarn beach come in the wake of charges introduced late last year at a car park on Water Street, where Cllr Wood would like to see free parking restored.

He said: “During July, August and September of last year, we kept the Water Street car park free of charge and saw an occupancy of more than 75 per cent.

“Since then there has been a restricted tariff of 20p per hour, which has seen occupancy drop to between 20 and 30 per cent.

“Last week I counted only seven cars in the Water Street car park.

“Five had parking permits and two had disabled Blue Badge parking, which meant the car park wasn’t earning any money.

“At the same time, people have just started parking on the streets.”

A CCBC spokesman said: “There has been a formal consultation regarding charging at the Abergele Market Street car park and the Pensarn beach car park.

“The findings will be reported to and considered by the cabinet member for environment, roads and facilities for a decision in due course.”

Charges at the promenade site in Colwyn Bay will apply between 10am and 4pm and range from 50p for an hour, £1 for two hours, four hours for £2.50 and £3.50 for four hours or more.

Cllr Wood added :“It’s important to look at car parks in the county on a case-by-case basis.

“I understand that CCBC would like to see revenue from the car parks, but they have to ask themselves ‘are the car parks worth more in parking fees or in business rates?’.”

A meeting is expected to take place with CCBC at the end of the month to discuss possible solutions.