The Leader of the Welsh Conservatives and Clwyd West MS Darren Millar is calling on Conwy County Borough Council to scrap plans to introduce parking charges on Old Colwyn promenade. 

He is supporting Conservative Councillors for Old Colwyn who have said the proposal is a “revenue raising” measure and called for it to be withdrawn. 

Darren is concerned about the impact such charges would have on the local economy and said it would be irresponsible of the Council to go ahead with them. 

Cllr Goronwy Edwards, Conwy Council’s cabinet member for infrastructure, transport, and facilities, said this week that a final decision would be made “in due course”. 

Darren is urging the Cabinet to rethink the proposals. 

He said: 

“Thousands of people currently visit this stretch each year, but charging people to do so could put all that in jeopardy. 

“Businesses in the area depend on these visitors and quite honestly it is irresponsible of Conwy County Council to even be considering this proposal. 

“Councillors Cheryl Carlisle and Neil Coverley were quite right to call the decision in, and I fully support their calls for this proposal to be scrapped. 

“People are currently facing increases from all directions, so the last thing they need is to be charged every time they want a stroll on the promenade or to visit a local café or shop. 

“In Cardiff we have the Welsh Government pushing to tax tourists, and here in Old Colwyn we have a local authority who want to effectively do the same. 

“This is a stunning part of North Wales and we should be doing everything we can to welcome people here, not deterring them with parking charges. 

“I can guarantee that if these proposals go ahead, people will just stop visiting and go elsewhere – is Conwy County Borough Council really prepared to take that risk?”