Welsh councils are offering free parking to drivers while cutting bus services - Wales News - News - WalesOnline: "PARKING giveaways are costing Welsh councils hundreds of thousands of pounds – while buses in some areas are threatened by budget cuts.
Free parking is designed to entice shoppers to a growing number of towns, but critics say it is unfair on people who do not have cars, undermines bus viability and ignores councils’ carbon reduction policies.
One green group even suggested turning surplus parking areas into public open spaces, because shoppers valued pleasant town centres.
Carmarthenshire is the latest council to offer free parking. This month it decided to suspend parking charges after 10am daily at the Llanelli multi-storey for a year, during town centre regeneration works.
The council will lose an estimated £222,000 in parking revenue.
It also opted for free parking in towns after 10am in the fortnight before Christmas, costing the council another £70,000.
Last March, Carmarthenshire withdrew two Pendine bus services. The council says it has not cut bus subsidies but no company had offered “realistic tenders” to run those services."
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