Businesses Concerned Over Potential Parking Charge Increase in Chepstow

Businesses say they are concerned parking charges could increase in a town described as “like the wild west” due to a lack of enforcement action.

Motorists in Chepstow have been parking “when and where they want” according to the councillor responsible who said the situation has been described as ‘lawless’ and like the ‘wild west’.

Chepstow councillor, and Monmouthshire council cabinet member, Paul Griffiths however revealed just seven parking tickets were issued throughout all of 2024 on Chepstow High Street where no parking is allowed.  

However the council is now proposing drivers who use authorised car parks should pay more.

Its budget, that is out to consultation, plans to increase charges in pay and display car parks across the county by 10 per cent to raise £180,000 which would be reinvested in car parks and highway infrastructure. 

A two-hour stay would rise from £2 to £2.20. 

Sue Kingdom, of Chepstow’s Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, said the biggest issue for businesses in the town is footfall and said there is concern at a potential increase in parking charges. 

She also claimed a council parking review has failed to involve businesses, the council has said they were “initially engaged” through a business resilience forum in November last year. 

Dr Kingdom said: “Business leads in Monmouthshire are disappointed at the lack of inclusion of business into the car parking review to date. We could have been submitting issues since last September. We asked for certain information before Christmas but are still waiting.

“The business leads are concerned that a rise, or introduction for some towns,, in car parking charges plus the introduction of a tourist tax will have a detrimental impact on the towns in future. There is no reassurance of how business will be supported.” 

Chepstow Mount Pleasant councillor Paul Pavia, who’d raised the parking issue at the county council’s most recent meeting, said some residents have already cited parking charges as contributing to unathorised on street parking. 

The Conservative said: “Residents have also pointed to high parking fees in local car parks as a contributing factor. Suggestions have included introducing more short-term free parking zones, such as free parking for the first 30 minutes at Welsh Street car park, to encourage compliance and support local businesses.” 

Responding to Cllr Pavia, Labour’s Cllr Griffiths acknowledged the enforcement team has been understaffed but said that is being considered as part of the parking review.

Cllr Paul Griffiths said: “Residents tell me they feel they are living in the sort of lawless conditions you would have found in the American wild west.  

“Motorists appear to be parking where they want, how they want without apparent restriction.” 

Monmouthshire council’s cabinet member for finance, Ben Callard, defended the proposal to increase parking charges though told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he does “anticipate” criticism. 

The Llanfoist and Govilon Labour councillor said: “As a rural county a lot of people drive into our town centres. 

“We’ve got free car parks in all of our towns, they tend to be taken up by the people that work in the towns and they fill up quite quickly.  

“It’s one of those charges where it’s over the rate of inflation and people will, I think, rightly question it. And I would defend it by saying this money supports our services.” 

Cllr Callard said without increasing increasing charges the council would have to raid other budgets to pay for highway and car park maintenance.

The Welsh Government has proposed councils should be able to charge a levy on overnight visitors, if they choose, but no decision has been made by Monmouthshire. 

Cllr Pavia said the plan for double yellow lines on High Street, Bank Street, and lower Welsh Street hasn’t had universal support.  

He said: “Some residents and town councillors support the move as necessary to address illegal parking, concerns have been raised about the impact on the town’s historic aesthetics.” 

The county council hopes painting double yellow lines will make it clearer to drivers parking isn’t allowed on High Street, the only warning at present are signs on the street.

On the parking review a council spokesman said:”We are committed to continuing our engagement with these business groups to discuss the options and recommendations that will emerge from this review. Further updates will be provided in due course.”