COUNCILLORS are set to keep free parking charges across Flintshire car parks to help boost post-pandemic trade, it is believed.

Flintshire Council’s Cabinet members will be asked to review the current situation regarding car parking charges in the county when they meet on Tuesday, May 18.

It was previously reported by the Leader how council members opted to suspend car parking charges across the county from March 25 last year due to COVID-19 – just days after the first national lockdown.

This was done initially to limit personal contact and reduce the risk of the virus being transmitted via surfaces on pay machines.

It is believed that there is no intention to change this situation at the current time.

Now, it is hoped that extending the offer will help town centre businesses.

However, the car park in Talacre is seen as a specific ‘end destination’ car park and cannot be classed as a town centre.

Free parking wont extend to Talacre, FCC confirms. [Main Image: Getty / Eyewave]

Free parking won't extend to Talacre, FCC confirms. [Main Image: Getty / Eyewave]

Flintshire County Council’s chief officer for Streetscene and transportation, Steve Jones, said: “While we welcome visitors to Talacre, parking provision is restricted and there is a negative impact of inconsiderate parking on local residents.

“To combat this, we introduced effective parking management and the village became more accessible and defused the frustration of local residents.

“Now that visitors are returning to Talacre, approval is sought to re-introduce the parking charge regime so that full management of the parking arrangements can take place.”

The income generated through the Pay and Display parking has part funded the ongoing cost of providing the parking arrangements and the officers needed to enforce the restrictions.

It is also proposed to introduce a charging regime on to the newly developed park and ride car park that has been built on Deeside Industrial Park.

This will enable employees to travel to the site by car before making their onward journey via regular shuttle bus services.

This development, as part of the North East Wales METRO, will deliver benefits through the reduced use of the private cars, and highway safety, through the reduction of on-street parking in the surrounding area.

It is planned that the facility will be used as a multi-use car park with the ability to purchase an annual permit or a day ticket, opening up opportunities for many in the surrounding areas to take advantage by using the pay and display allocation for ‘park and share’ to complete onward journeys.