RCT are rolling out new pay and display machines in most car parks through out the Cynon Valley.

Mountain Ash have a petition going because they want to start charging 30p an hour and up to £10 for over 4 hours to park in their car parks in the town, one of which is a park and ride for the rail links.

Talk about encouraging people to park and ride and save the environment, haha what a joke!!!! £10 for a day, then your train ticket I don't think so, people can park in Cardiff cheaper than those 2 charges put together. It'll discourage people to travel by train, I thought the whole point of park and ride was, paying your train ticket not only secured your ride, but also a free parking spot.

They'll try and get money out of us all ways.

Aberdare sports centre will see a drop in numbers if they start charging to park, it's like how longs a piece of string really. You take the kids swimming or go to the gym, what length ticket do you buy?? 30p an hour, 70p for 2, £1 for 3?? Who on earth knows how long they are going be in there realistically. So people will buy a longer ticket and the council will always be making more money, then you're actually parked there for.

Pathetic of RCT, money grabbers.

"

Shopowners worry about council’s proposed car parking charges

Apr 16 2009 by neil collins, Cynon Valley Leader

MOUNTAIN Ash shopowners fear proposed car parking charges will result in the death of the town centre.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is currently discussing whether to introduce parking meters at Henry Street car park for 60p for one hour, £1.20 for two and a massive £10 for four hours and over.

And combined with the current bleak economic situation, many town retailers fear such charges would be the final nail in the town’s coffin.

Howell Day, 47, of Caegarw, Mountain Ash, has owned the Howell's Menswear shop on Oxford Street for 22 years.

“I have got in touch with my local solicitor and the Chamber of Trade, and have put together a petition which already has 600 signatures,” said Mr Day.

“I don't know how the car parking charges can be justified with clearly so much opposition to it.

“We are trying to encourage more people to come into Mountain Ash but these charges just persecute the residents who have had endless amounts of patience during the regeneration of the last two years.

“My business is down 25% since the recession and these charges have come at the worst possible time – they could kill off the town centre.

“I have two girls who don't live in the area who I may now face losing because they can't pay £200 a month just to come to work.”

Kevin Hope, 46, of Hope Pharmacy on Oxford Street more runs a free medical delivery and collection service which is now in jeopardy.

He said: “The service we offer is totally funded by ourselves but with the charges we would have to reconsider whether the pharmacy can sustain what we believe to be an essential service to the local population.

“Otherwise the only prospect I envisage is more empty premises in an already depressed trading environment.

“When more empty shops do appear – and they will – there will be no one paying for parking in Henry Street because ultimately there will be no shops left.”

Mountain Ash councillor Pauline Jarman said “These charges will be the death knell of an already fragile town centre.

“I think the plans are extremely short-sighted, especially with the recession and the fact that the councillors are giving themselves a 3.5% annual pay increase.

“The public will be horrified by these changes and I can't blame them.”

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/south-wales-news/cynon-valley/2009/04/...

Traders fight against town centre parking charges

Apr 30 2009 by neil collins, Cynon Valley Leader

A PETITION of around 4,000 names has been submitted to Rhondda Cynon Taf Council opposing the proposed car parking charges in Mountain Ash and Aberdare town centres.

If introduced, motorists will be forced to pay £10 to park for four hours or more.

The council believe the new charges will raise an estimated £650,000 revenue a year.

But traders are angered by the council’s timing of such a move considering the current economic climate.

Wayne Withers, 38, has lived at Ifor Street, Mountain Ash for 13 years and runs The Tattoo Studio in Oxford Street.

“We have a town which is dead on its feet and its ridiculous that these phenomenal charges will be introduced in such a small community.”

Judith Toms, secretary of Aberdare Chamber of Trade, said: “I attended a meeting on Wednesday, April 22, and the council were going to go ahead with their plans regardless of public opinion or a consultancy period.

“Our concerns were met with complete silence – the whole idea of a council is to listen to the concerns of the public and address them, not go behind the public’s back and act on impulse.

“If they introduce car parking charges I suggest it benefits the public in some way – like in Bridgend where the tickets are redeemable against goods in the town centre.”

Mountain Ash councillor Pauline Jarman said: “I am quite confident this so-called period of consultation was announced only to fulfil legislation. The public are aghast and I cannot blame them for losing faith in their councillors.”

George Jones, RCT’s group director of environmental services, said: “Rather than deal with this petition individually, I propose to deal with it as an objection to the proposed car park order.

“The statutory objection period commenced on April 7 and ended on April 28.

“In the light of this, the petition will now be included as part of my report, along with the comments of the other consultees and respondents that may be received by the council during the objection period.

“Based upon the strength of any representations made, a formal decision will then be made regarding whether to make the order, amend it or not to proceed any further.”

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/2009/04/30/traders-fight-against-town-centr...

If this is the case,then its a great pity and will certainly have an impact on the leisure centre and train users. RCT should reconsider and show support for those who try and maintain a healthy lifestyle,charging will only be counter productive.

What a rip off- parked in Nant Row Car Park on Tuesday and it cost me a £1, i was only there for 15 minutes! This is going to hit town centre traders hard I suspect.

Well done RCT....!!!!

and they wonder why people stop shopping in town centres and use tesco and asda instead.....ghost town here we come !!!

Since the instalation of the pay machines in the Ynys car park there have been cars parked up from the station towards Robertstown ( The by-pas by-pass ) and around the bend over the river bridge. It is only a matter of time before there is a head on crash here as cars coming up are in the middle of the road and it is a favoutite route for speed merchants and boy racers.

Not sure where the people got the idea that the parking guy in mount was booking people willy nilly the first week, I rang the council to check a few things last week and they informed me that in the first 2 weeks no one was booked in Mountain Ash. 11 warnings were issued.

While I am against the parking charges I think its only fair the facts are posted on here...

Did anyone else hear the debate on The Radio Wales Phone-In this week, all about car parking charges?

Rhondda Cynon Taf were one of the most expensive at £10 for 4 hours at Mountain Ash, a shop keeper from Mountain Ash was the first to phone in and complain.

http://www.aberdareonline.co.uk/content/car-parking-charges-rhondda-cyno...

crazyman hi i feel i must write to air my view on car parking charges. i live in aberdare and feel that these charges are way too high people from outside the area are not using the car parks and parking outside other peoples property,and stopping local residents from parking outside thier own homes.being disabled i find it very inconvenient for me to have to park one or two streets away.i understand that some people cant afford 10.00 to park but they are working in aberdare.some are police personnel ,solicitors and the like who clearly can pay.so why not think of the local residents and come into aberdare by public transport.wind street is frequently blocked by unthinking uncaring illegal parking.only a serious accident which is waiting to happen.will there anythying be done .so please use a little sense when parking your vehicles.thankyou.

I know for a fact that charges for car parking in the U K is one of the big moans visitors have about the country.

They fleece the motorist big time in Britain. On a recent visit I was shocked to see a parking ticket machine up on the wilds of Dartmoor.

No wonder they call it "RIP OFF BRITAIN" it's bound to have and effect on tourism.

Some councils can't see further than their local bank.

Greed Greed Greed will destroy us all in the end.

Free car parking for Christmas shoppers

Rhondda Cynon Taf residents will once again have the opportunity to use council-run car parks free of charge throughout the county borough to do their Christmas shopping.

There will be free parking after 10am from Saturday December 18th to Friday December 24 at the following car parks:

• Pontypridd - Gas Road, Goods Yard, Millfield, Berw Road multi-storey (Closed Sundays), Sardis Road (Closed Sundays), and the Precinct (Closed Sundays),

• Aberdare - Crown Buildings, Green Street, Library, Duke Street, Gadlys Pit, High Street, Nant Row, Ynys and Rock Grounds. (Rock Grounds is closed on Sundays.)

• Mountain Ash – Henry Street (North) Car Park and Henry Street (South) Car Park

• Porth – Porth Plaza

• Tonypandy – Tonypandy Town Centre (Lower), De Winton Street and Tonypandy Town Centre (Upper). [Tonypandy Town Centre (Upper) is closed on Sundays.]

• Pontyclun – Heol-yr-Orsaf

Vehicles must display a valid parking ticket until 10am.

Parking fees ‘hurt towns’

* by Linda Elias, Cynon Valley Leader
* Jun 30 2011

PARKING charges have further damaged the viability of already fragile town centres in Cynon Valley, Plaid Cymru has claimed

Footfall figures for Mountain Ash – where parking charges were introduced by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council in 2009 – have revealed the annual performance of the town centre has dropped in both 2010 and again in 2011.

The council introduced a 60p charge at Mountain Ash for the first hour in September 2009 and this rose to 70p in May. Two-hour parking is now £1.40

But the local authority maintains it is inaccurate and unfair to directly link the decline in footfall in Mountain Ash to one sole factor, such as car parking charges.

A Freedom of Information request by Valleys-based Assembly Member Leanne Wood revealed that the council received £18,905 in car park income from the Henry Street car park, Mountain Ash, in 2009-10. This rose to more than £21,000 in 2010-11.

Leanne Wood said: “I’m aware from colleagues that traders in Mountain Ash are finding it very difficult in current climate. Shops are empty while some retail units are no longer occupied by traditional town centre businesses.

“Clearly the introduction of charges and increases since 2009 will have an impact on shoppers and these fees will be seen by some as a signal to drive to one of the out-of-town complexes where parking is free.”

Coun John Daniel, Plaid Cymru’s spokesman on highways and transport, said: “Charges have gone up again and people are not going to pop into Mountain Ash or Aberdare to buy a loaf of bread or a pint of milk if they are going to have to pay 70p. They will instead head for Asda in Aberaman or Tesco in Aberdare.

“While Aberdare does have its anchor stores like Wilkinsons and B&M, Mountain Ash unfortunately is unable to offer that to attract people.”

He said that the Plaid group would be considering its view on parking charges ahead of next year’s council elections.

An RCT Council spokesperson, said: “Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is committed to protecting and celebrating its unique and historic town centres, including Mountain Ash.

“It is working hard to fight against the UK-wide decline of the traditional ‘High Street’ caused by many different factors, including the global economic crisis, changes in shopping trends, consumer demand and more.

“In relation to car parking charges, revenue generated is invested back into frontline services, which includes creating attractive, safe parking facilities for the benefit of businesses, shoppers and visitors.

Since April 2011 more than £200,000 of improvements works have been carried out at parking facilities across the borough.

“The Council has invested thousands of pounds on a high-profile Shop Local campaign, including free advertising for town centre businesses and a web presence, showcasing all that the town has on offer.

“Similar investment has enabled successful events such as the winter parades and summer carnivals to attract people to the town and promote it.

“This work continues alongside the delivery of the Mountain Ash Town Centre strategy, with further support including expert mentoring support for businesses, which is currently under way.”

Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/south-wales-news/cynon-valley/2011/06/...

Yes but if you park infront of pool and block road down to one lane you wont get a ticket, it causes mayhem trying to get to the sports centre. You phone the police and they say its a council issue madness

Its a nightmare since the fee's were added to the pool car park, now everyone wants to park at the side for free. But yes you are right someone will get their car damaged or someone will get killed because of this badly planned parking scheme. Why do we have to pay, its just another RCT tax.

More troughing again then