MOLD could become the only town in Flintshire where visitors must pay to park.

Earlier this year council bosses announced parking charges would be scrapped across the county.

But community leaders in Mold were furious and feared that abolishing parking charges could threaten the “vitality” of the town and cause traffic chaos.

Visitors must currently pay 20p for three hours or 50p per day to park in Mold town centre car parks, but concerns were raised that people who work in the town, who currently park outside the centre, will fill the car parks and discourage shoppers.

Now representatives from the town council have met with Cllr Tony Sharps, Flintshire Council deputy leader, and Carl Longland, the councils director of environment to discuss the proposals.

Mold town centre manager Dave Hill said it was an “encouraging” meeting.

“It was agreed Mold is a special case, it’s got different needs to many other towns in Flintshire, in particular with regards to charging for parking,” he said.

“There are concerns that if charges are not retained we would end up with traffic chaos and that was acknowledged by both the director and the deputy leader which is encouraging.”

The town council agreed that it would work with the county council to come up with a “parking management strategy” for the town.

“It is certainly a good starting point,” added Mr Hill.

Mold and Holywell are the only two towns in Flintshire where shoppers must pay to park and the charges generate £188,000 a year in revenue for Flintshire Council.

Council chiefs had originally proposed to introduce parking charges across the county, but Cllr Tony Sharps made a shock announcement in January that all parking charges would be scrapped.