A small coastal town in Wales has seen an inadvertent boom in business, after vandals smashed up all of its parking meters.
Four pay-and-display machines were damaged in the town of Cardigan last month, with visitors able to park for free until the council manages to cobble together the £22,500 needed to repair them.
As a result, local retailers claim that more visitors are staying for longer in the town as a result, which has had a positive impact on local businesses, all thanks to the vandals.
Keith Davies, a butcher, said: “We've long campaigned for free parking, and while we don't condone the damage to the machines, the difference it's made is unbelievable.
"I've seen trade go up by around 20 per cent but some businesses have seen an increase of 50 per cent, which is not only good for the traders but it helps make Cardigan a thriving place.
"Instead of going out of town to Tesco or Aldi, people can stay in the centre for five or six hours without having to pay or worry about getting a ticket. They can go into shops then stop at a café or a restaurant without having to rush.”
The council estimates that the ticket machines will be out of order until September, which means that summer visitors will also be able to benefit from not having to pay the £1.20 per hour charge.
With local authorities often accused of harming businesses with excessive parking charges, campaigners are now hoping that Cardigan’s situation could be replicated in other towns.
Martin Radley, chairman of Cardigan Traders, added: “What we have now is a level playing field. People are staying longer and spending more.
"It demonstrates what we've been saying for years: if you have lower parking fees, or even no fees, then people will come into town."
Do you think that councils should remove parking fees in order to benefit local businesses? Let us know your thoughts on our Facebook or Twitter pages!
