SHOPPERS will now able able to leave their cars free of charge for two hours at the Matalan car park in Greenfield Place, Rhyl, following a decision by Denbighshire planners last week.

Previously, as a condition of the original planning application to develop the site for shops a number of years ago, the park was to be available free to shoppers 24 hours a day.

However the owners of the site had applied to have the condition removed and to be able to charge for parking.

This caused a storm of protest locally, and the application was refused. However the owners submitted an appeal against this decision, and at the same time entered another planning application which would give shoppers two hours free parking. This was given consent by Denbighshire's planners.

Graeme Rich, administrator of the Rhyl Forum page on Facebook, which has been in the forefront of the long running campaign against the imposition of car parking charges, said: "The planning committee's decisions seems to be a reasonable compromise.but it would have been better if the period was three rather than two hours before charges start. This would have allowed better trips into the town.

"However as the company has submitted an appeal against the original planning decision to continue 24 hours a day free parking, it could mean there would be no free parking at the site if their appeal is upheld.

"This is something we will continue to monitor, but we will have to wait and see what happens, but I think we shouldn't expect a decision before Christmas."

He added: "I believe the ticket issuing machines at the site have already been put into operation."

The site is owned by Nectar Asset Management, which is based in Copenhagen, and is managed on their behalf by Euro Car Parks.