CHANGES to parking regulations and charges in a town centre car park are causing chaos according to regular users who claim the repercussions are going to affect trade and have a negative knock-on effect on nearby parking facilities.

Many town centre car parks used to have a maximum stay of four hours but those who work in the town were able to go to their cars at lunchtime and top up their parking to take them through the rest of the day.

However, changes now mean that, following the initial period, there can be no return for two hours and the new regulations are backed up by number plate recognition. Also, thee is no longer an overstay facility.

Kim Holbrook, sales negotiator with DJ&P Newland Rennie of Lion Street, told the Chronicle, ‘Because of the nature of our work, we can be in and out all day on viewings with clients and if we leave we cannot return to park in Lion Street car park for two hours.

‘Inevitably, people are going to over the Fairfield and have to trudge all the way into town and back or alternatively people are going to wait out the two hours in Morrison’s which will not please the supermarket at all.

‘This just hasn’t been thought through. There was no consultation at all. We turned up for work one day and the system had switched over.’

Senior sales negotiator, Alison Indge added, ‘An example of its stupidity is, if we want to pay to park from 9 until 11, because we have to pop out for a viewing, we cant come back to the car park for 2 hours - and we have to move the cars after 4 hours and find another car park; it’s total bonkers.’

Abergavenny councillor, Tudor Thomas commented, ‘What I can say is that the whole of the County’s car parking charges need to be looked at. It seems eminently unfair that Usk has free parking and Abergavenny does not.’

Social media commentators have been quick to express their displeasure, with one stating, ‘What a mindless grab at yet more money. Have MCC leaned nothing from the success of Cwmbran’s free parking?’

Another poster added, ‘No return policies typically apply to free car parks so that everybody gets a fair go. Presumably the restrictions are in place to prevent people who work in town from going back to get another ticket, but why? They’re getting the money regardless. Those who work in town need to be able to park somewhere too.’

Monmouthshire’s car parks manager, Amanda Perrin stated, ‘These car parks are designed to be short-stay facilities for a maximum of four hours. Some people have been abusing this by simply feeding the meter when close to expiry. Some may be unhappy but many will benefit from freeing up spaces. The changes were advertised last June.’

Councillor Bryan Jones, Monmouthshire’s cabinet member with responsibility for the county’s car parks said, ‘The council provides a considerable amount of long-term car parking in Abergavenny for those people intending to spend more than four hours - the maximum term in our short-term car parks – in our towns. 

‘Vehicles which previously unlawfully occupied spaces in our short-term car parks potentially deprived a considerable number of visitors who wished to stay for perhaps half an hour or less.

‘This is not good for business and caused inconvenience for those wishing to make a brief call in our towns to purchase goods, deliver or collect items or attend an appointment. We encourage everyone to support their local shops and businesses, and better access to short term parking will help.’