Caerphilly Council agrees to implement car parking charges in country parks

News | | Published: 15:43, Wednesday July 16th, 2014.
Last updated: 12:20, Thursday July 24th, 2014

Parc Penallta's 200 metre pit pony
Parc Penallta will be subject to the car parking charges

Controversial plans to charge visitors for parking at five country parks in Caerphilly County Borough have been passed.

The new charges, which will bring in an estimated £80,000 a year, will apply to Parc Cwm Darran, Parc Penallta, Pen y Fan Pond, Sirhowy Valley County Park and Parc Coetir Bargoed.

They will be applicable seven days a week, with up to two hours costing £1 and a daily charge of £3.

Blue badge holders will be entitled to three hours for £1 and annual season tickets for use of all parks will cost £50 a year.

The charges were agreed by Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Cabinet on July 16.

More than 2,000 residents had signed a petition against the charges when they were first announced in April this year.

Eddy Blanche, Chair of Fochriw and Pentwyn Residents’ Association, regularly takes his granddaughter to Parc Cwm Darran.

He said: “It’s very blinkered and it’s very shortsighted. The number of visitors to the parks will fall.

“The council constantly talk about the need for people to get fit and active, then do this while paying for a cinema in Bargoed.”

Caerphilly County Borough Council has defended the charges citing budget pressures.

Cllr Ken James, Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Sustainable Development, said: “This authority is facing unprecedented financial pressures over the coming years, and unfortunately it is inevitable that difficult decisions are having to be made.

“We have carefully considered the views of all our users and residents as part of the consultation.

“These charges have been implemented to generate funds to help pay for the upkeep of these sites and ensure they remain green spaces that people want to visit.

“Without these funds it would be extremely difficult for the council to maintain the high standards we currently see at these sites.”

Colin Mann, leader of the Plaid Cymru opposition at the council criticised the scheme.

He said: “It is disappointing that the council only entered into a consultation exercise after the proposals were publicised. The Cabinet clearly had made their mind up whatever the thousands of people who signed protest petitions had said.

“The cabinet member’s claim that the views of users and residents were carefully considered rings hollow. They really didn’t want to hear the views of the public.

“I question whether the new charges will bring in anything like the £80,000 a year estimated and I will be keeping a close watch on how much income this shortsighted scheme will generate.”

34 thoughts on “Caerphilly Council agrees to implement car parking charges in country parks”

    1. Jamie you may be aware that this decision has already been made by Caerphilly Council, because, it has.

      The council have also prepared and passed a scheme to restrict Residents Parking permits to certain houses in resident parking zones, they have also determined which of those homes will qualify and which will not qualify, houses sitting next to each other will not be treated the same for parking permits, and, a charge will be made or those who do qualify in a street, those who do not qualify will, of course, not be able to park outside or near to their homes as restrictions will be in force to prevent them doing so.

      I hope that some Caerphilly Councillor or other will try to state that I am wrong, well, bring it on and I will point to the Cabinet and council decision, but first of all I would like to see someone deny it.

    1. Ed, you are jumping to the wrong conclusions, at least in respect to charging residents to park in the street outside their homes, as suggested by Jamie, It is not the Labour administration which is doing it. now, there`s a conundrum considering they are in power in Caerphilly.

      1. government cuts and Plaid maladministration have not helped, Government cuts of £24 million and Plaids lost Icelandic millions , with £1.6 that we will never get back, I would also add that Plaid introduced parking charges in Cwm Carn back in 2011, these are not excuses but facts < i do agree that new charges are wrong and wont raise much extra revenue , we should not be borrowing to fund ventures like new cinemas and sports centers.

  4. There is no way that an extra £80,000 annually will be raised as the number of visitors to these parks is bound to fall. If the cost of the parking machines, maintenance and enforcement is deducted the amount raised will be even lower.

    The pay scandal, and the council’s attitude toward it, plus the increase in community tax and poorly thought out moves like this parking charge convinces me that Labour do not want to win a majority of council seats next election.

    1. Richard: both you and I know that these proposals, which the council have now accepted, are not the stuff of Councillors brainstorming ways to raise money, they are officer inspired ideas. The problem really is, as you correctly state in your comments,
      “poorly thought out moves like this parking charge convinces me that
      Labour do not want to win a majority of council seats next election”.

      that the responsible Cabinet Members do not have the courage to properly question these daft officer inspired ideas and dustbin them before they make a mockery of good governance and prudent and measured political judgement which, had things been done properly all residents/ratepayers of the borough should benefit from every decision they make, individually and collectively.

      1. again it maybe officer inspired ideas and a poorly thought out move and if Cabinet Members do not have the courage to properly question these daft officer inspired ideas, they should not be on the cabinet or even a councilor. but instead of bustbin them it was they who voted them in against so much public hostility

  5. Typical Labour attitude, raise money through taxation and extra charges rather than reduce overpaid bloated staff levels. I dare say £80’000 could be saved by making one position redundant. The ticket machines will be in remote locations, it will not take long before somebody takes an angle grinder to them and steals the coin box, or some bright spark fills the coin slot with super glue rendering the machines useless.

    It also seems that with the recent cancellation of some events, and now the introduction of car parking charges in country parks Caerphilly Council are doing their best to put visitors off rather than encouraging them to visit.

  7. This is a total disgrace! Residents all over the borough petitioned it seems like this was simply ignored! Remember you are elected and the people’s voice should matter to you all. Instead you prioritise making money rather than what your voters want.
    Promoting healthy living should be a main concern with the obesity rising in the South Wales Valleys, and you have placed another barrier in the way. You may as well place a sign before entering the parks saying… only for the most privileged people. What you have done by implementing these charges is caused yet another social divide. You should be ashamed.

    1. Natalie you are absolutely correct in everything you say, let’s hope come Election Day the voters of Caerphilly remember things like this and they do not get into power again.

      1. Councillors have been acting like for millenium, the voice of the people is not something which impresses them very much if at all. But, I would say to Paul and others who only point a finger at Labour, that it is not a partisan problem, ALL politicians practice the delft way these things happen, i.e protest today but lets hope it is forgotten by the next election, thats another reason why we in Wales have three elections, Local, Assembly, and general, so far apart, for instance, if the public wanted to cast a protest vote next year at the general election it would not make sense, as the objection were raised on a LOCAL issue and nothing to do with our MP., so, by the time the of the next LOCAL elections these issues will be stuff of something blowing on the wind.

        1. hi Trefor

          you asked why we only point the finger at labour.

          Is it the plaid cymru councilors who are placing parking charges on our parks. NO

          iS it the conservative councilors who are going to shut our bowling greens. NO

          It could even be ukip councilors threatening to closing some leisure centers, NO

          Perhaps its the green party who have already started talking about 3 weekly collections of our bins, NO

          Monster raving loonys making charges on us honest people who take rubish to the civic skips when others take theirs to the mountain for free. NO

          ITS LABOUR IN CHARGE NOT ANYONE ELSE

          YES Trefor i am pointing the finger and NO i wont be forgetting by the next election and NO it wont be a protest vote.

          Before you start wondering my political beliefs are, i have always voted labour for everything since i was old enough to vote. do i need to tell you come next council and maybe general elections who i wont be voting for.

  8. I must state that the only councillor I have faith in is cllr baker and not because I know her but she is always accessible she walks around the streets of newbridge to inspect them and is always visible. If an 80 year old lady can make the effort then there is no excuse for other people.

  11. CCBC SAY “YES” TO PARKING AT COUNTRY PARKS

    Lynne Hughes-Williams
    Caerphilly

    17 Jul 2014 — At a meeting held yesterday, there was a unanimous vote to say “yes” to car parking charges at our country parks, despite strong arguments and counter-proposals being put forward on behalf of over 3,000 complainants who signed the petition.

    For those who attended the meeting were left feeling totally dismayed, bewildered and speechless, not by the decision but by the manner of the process, which was wholly lacking in any suggestion of democracy. Democracy was not seen to be done.

    The speech that I prepared to submit to the Cabinet members for which I had to seek permission for someone to read on our behalf of the complainants; as the public are not allowed to present their own arguments which was read by a Councillor of (“Plaid Cymru) to the Cabinet. Firstly the report was read; read without any emotion, it was all monotone and despondent and showing defeat.

    Many issues were raised within that speech regarding the Council’s failure to respond to questions and their failure to give specific replies in the report to questions raised by complainants.

    Then the report writer is called to give her response to the issues raised within the speech, she totally disregarded what were our arguments and counter-proposals and stuck with the generic content of the report prepared by her and we could barely understand what she was saying.

    We then thought that there was then going to be a discussion amongst the Cabinet Members, oh no! One Councillor Mr Ken James spoke and then he couldn’t even get it right. He was stating that the decision was already made back in February, and therefore as far as he was concerned it was done and dusted – on so many words – again acoustics was no good! And his back was to us.

    Then the Chief Executive Stuart Rosser (I don’t know if he normally sits in on these meetings) had to point out to Mr James that the meeting in February was in fact to approve the budget within which the car parking charges were included not to approve the car parking charges then, and that the meeting being held today was to decide on the car parking charges. How wrong can you get it? There was no further comment from him. What?

    Then Councillor Reynolds then gave a short speech about the cuts that the Council were facing and so on and so on, and then they voted! At which point, I and the others must have fallen asleep for 10 minutes, because I did not witness any discussion.

    They simply moved to a show of hands all of whom voted, or so it would appear, it happened all so quickly, although I’m sure there was one person I didn’t see put his hands up, but who am I?

    Just before leaving I attempted to get an opportunity to express our disappointment and their lack of respect to consider our arguments and counter-proposals but was shot down and told that we were not allowed to speak and so I stopped, although we went out in a “blaze” when one of the petitioners shouted “you will hear what I have to say even if it is on our way out” – and on she went to say what a bunch of idiots…………………and so on” I won’t mention any names.

    IT WAS A TOTAL AND UTTER SHAM! THERE IS NO DEMOCRACY – THE PUBLIC DO NOT COUNT – IT IS ALL ABOUT MONEY FOR THE FAT CATS AT THE TOP! SELF IMPORTANCE FULFILLING THEIR OWN AMBITIONS AND GOALS TO PROVE THEMSELVES – IT’S AN ABSOLUTE DISGRACE!

    We understand that we are all facing cuts, what our simple argument was that this scheme was not suitable and would not generate the revenue to help with saving money, what revenue it may generate would be so little it would not have an impact, but it would hurt the pockets of those who are already hurting! No-one is feeling it more than us workers, retired people and those with ill-health.

    From what I have seen, procedure has not been followed correctly!

    The report will be available on-line sometime next week. Look under the tab on the CCBC website Council and Democracy and follow from there.

    Any comments please feel free to refer them to the Council!.
    Chief Executive – Stuart Rosser
    His e-mail is: stuartrosser@Caerphilly.gov.uk
    Monitoring Officer : Gail Morgan
    E-mail : willige@Caerphilly.gov.uk

  13. At the meeting yesterday, we asked for the decision on the car parking charges to be delayed by 4 months to allow the residents of CCBC to come up with ideas for alternative ways to raise these funds. We were not heard!

  14. This disregard of the public’s wishes all comes about because of the fact that the public, in this case the electorate of Caerphilly CBC are totally disorganised and separately can do nothing about this or any other situation that might arise. The Council can spend 6 – 7 million on a white elephant like Bargoed’s cinema but find the need to squeeze a further £80,000 a year out of the people who patronise the country parks. The obesity problem, albeit important, is only one aspect of the benefits accrued by having free car parking at the said country parks. The Council own nothing ion its own right. The public, on the other hand, does.

  15. Apart from the introduction of the parking charge the worst part of this story is that the meeting to discuss the issue was held last week yet the bases for the parking machines were installed the week before , so what was the point of a meeting to discuss it when it was already decided and what sort of democracy is this , the council is just doing what ever they want , I have emailed the council a few times on this issue and they haven’t had the decency to reply

    1. There was NO discussion at the meeting about the car parking charges, it was all superficial – they did not hear what the residents said and they certainly did not discuss our objections and counter-proposals!

  17. The management by the Council of the residents’ objections, concerns and counter-proposals have been disappointing from start to finish! However, I’m sure that it will be labour who will be experiencing the disappointment at the next local elections!

  18. Here is a report and the people who voted for it:

    Cabinet – 16.07.2014

    CABINET

    MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD AT PENALLTA HOUSE, TREDOMEN,

    ON WEDNESDAY, 16TH JULY 2014 AT 2.00 PM

    PRESENT: Councillor K.V. Reynolds – Leader

    Councillors:

    Mrs C. Forehead (HR and Governance/Business Manager), D.T. Hardacre (Performance and Asset Management), K. James (Regeneration, Planning and Sustainable Development),Mrs R. Passmore (Education and Lifelong Learning), D.V. Poole (Community and Leisure Services), R. Woodyatt (Social Services), T.J. Williams (Highways, Transportation and Engineering).

    Together with: S.A. Rosser (Interim Chief Executive), Mrs S. Aspinall (Acting Deputy Chief Executive),Mrs N. Scammell (Acting Director Corporate Services and S.151 Officer), D. Street (Corporate Director Social Services).

    Also in Attendance: P. Elliott (Head of Regeneration and Planning), T. Shaw (Head of Engineering Services), H. Morgan (Team Leader Integrated Transport Unit), G. Evans (Interim Manager, Community Education), S. Harris (Acting Head of Corporate Finance), C. Jones (Head of Performance and Property), R. Roberts (Performance Manager), S.M. Kauczok (Committee Services Officer).

    1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

    Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Mrs B. Jones (Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Corporate Services) and Councillor G. Jones (Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing).

    2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

    There were no declarations of interest.

    3. MINUTES

    RESOLVED that the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 2nd July 2014 (minute nos. 1-8; page nos. 1-4) be approved and signed as a correct record.
    Cabinet – 16.07.2014

    2 MATTERS ON WHICH EXECUTIVE DECISIONS WERE REQUIRED

    4. INTRODUCTION OF CAR PARKING CHARGES AT COUNTRY PARKS

    The report sought approval to proceed with the introduction of car parking charges at five country parks following the advertising of the Caerphilly County Borough Council Traffic Regulation Order. Car parking charges at country parks were agreed indicative proposals as part of the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP). They have now been advertised as required by regulations and the report outlines the responses received to the consultation. Given the level of public response it had been decided that the matter should be reported to Cabinet to decide whether or not the charges should be confirmed.
    The proposals have been advertised and the public consultation has been completed. On the advice of Legal Services the consultation period was extended by a week to allow for the Easter holidays and to ensure the public had adequate time to respond. Consultation ran between 3rd April and 2nd May 2014. The advertised charges for each of the parks is £1.00 for up to 2 hours or £3.00 for the day. Blue badge holders are allowed up to 3 hours for £1.00, this being in accordance with the concession previously approved by the Council.
    Season tickets will be available at a cost of £50.00 for 1 year (or £25.00 for 6 months).
    The consultation has resulted in a significant number of objections. A total of 7 petitions were submitted (several were the same petition submitted in stages but each with different signatures) signed by over 2,800 persons. In addition there were 124 letters of objection and numerous comments made on social media.

    Councillor C.P. Mann had been granted permission by the Leader of Council to address Cabinet on behalf of local objectors to the proposals. Councillor Mann read out a detailed statement prepared by objectors, setting out the reasons why they believed car parking at country parks should be free of charge and requesting further information in relation to the costs of implementing the scheme. Reference was made in particular to the negative impact
    the proposals would have on the health and well-being of residents and visitors to the area who use the country parks.

    Mrs P. Elliott, Head of Regeneration and Planning, presented the officer’s report and responded in detail to all the issues raised. It was pointed out that should the car parking charges not be progressed or if they are amended there will be a financial impact on the ability of the Council and service to achieve the required budget savings. Should that be the case, Regeneration and Planning would incur a budget deficit equal to the estimated income of £85,000, which would need to be funded by other means.

    Following consideration and discussion, it was moved and seconded that the recommendation in the report be approved. By a show of hands this was unanimously agreed.

    RESOLVED that for the reasons set out in the report, officers proceed with the Road Traffic Order to introduce car parking charges at all country parks (as outlined in paragraph 4.4) as advertised.

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