Car parking to get more expensive in Neath Port Talbot after councillors agree raft of increases

On-street parking permits are set to see a £5 increase to £25 with the exception of car worker permits which will be made free of charge. Charges are being introduced for disabled on-street permits however.

Permit charges will also be increased annually in line with inflation.

Off-street parking at the council’s car parks will also be increased, costing £1.75 for up to an hour, £2.30 for up to 2 hours, £2.85 for up to 3 hours, £3.30 for up to 4 hours and £3.80 for all day parking.

Parking charges in Pontardawe are being brought inline with that across the rest of neath Port Talbot, however the first hour will remain free of charge.

Free parking over the entire Christmas period will not continue, with a 5 day free period introduced instead. The council said that it had looked at providing free bus travel similar to that provided by Swansea Council, however this was seen as unaffordable.

Seafront parking will also change according to the new proposals, with a charge of £1 per hour up to a maximum of 2 hours at on street parking bays between 8am and 8pm. Off-street seafront parking will see it’s charging times changed to 8am to 8pm.

The council say that the new fees and charges seek to address its outstanding maintenance issues at its car parks and to reduce budget pressures within the council’s parking services. 

Members of Neath Port Talbot Council’s Environment, Regeneration and Streetscene Cabinet Board agreed the changes at their meeting on Thursday September 14^th.

Nicola Pearce, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Director of Environment and Regeneration, told the meeting: “We do not like to be in the position of having to increase parking charges but unfortunately because of the budget situation, this and other councils across Wales now find themselves in, I’m afraid this is a financial necessity.”

The director added that work was being undertaken with partner organisations to increase the attractiveness of town centres and other destinations within Neath Port Talbot and explained that the car parking changes would be reviewed within six months so “if they are proving to be ineffective, we can consider alternative proposals”. 

An officers’ report to the Cabinet Board said: “The council’s car park income funds the maintenance upkeep of car parks to appropriate standards of safety, lighting and equality issues and security standards. 

“The parking income account has spent £4m over five years running and maintaining the council car parks and car parking machines. £201,000 of this cost was for the purchase and maintenance of pay and display machines. In 2022/23, £127,400 has been spent so far on building maintenance in Port Talbot and Neath Multi Storey Car Parks (MSCPs) alone, while the income from parking across both car parks is just under £227,000 

“There are outstanding maintenance issues that will require funding of around £750,000 based on the last condition survey to carry out concrete repairs, electrical repairs and painting in Port Talbot MSCP and a further £60,000  resurface St Mary’s Car Park in Port Talbot.”

Councillors accepted a recommendation that the traditional Christmas free parking in NPT town centres should end in favour of five “free parking days” for each town centre, the dates to be decided by traders.

Neath Port Talbot Council said that public consultations will be undertaken when the council formally advertises the proposed changes to the off-street car parking order and on-street traffic orders. 

The Cabinet Board meeting heard that under the proposals Blue Badge holders would still be able to enjoy free parking within the on-street car parking bays on the Aberavon Seafront.

(Lead image: Neath Port Talbot Council)