Ex-councillor slams suspension of Castle Street parking bays

* The parking bays along Castle Street.

A former Llangollen county councillor has criticised plans to suspend parking bays on Castle Street which he brands as “silly in the extreme”.

The proposed move comes as part of a package of measures by Denbighshire County Council to promote active travel in the centre of Llangollen in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Welsh Government has provided funding for local authorities to introduce measures aimed at helping people to maintain social distancing in public places, and to encourage residents to walk and cycle safely. 

Similar schemes are in mind for Llangollen, Denbigh, Ruthin and Rhyl.

The council says that as part of the plan intended for Llangollen it aims to use Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) to suspend the parking bays on Castle Street.

However, it has reassured local people they will be consulted before any scheme is put in place.

But the idea has run into criticism from former county councillor Stuart Davies who says in a press release issued this morning: “The idea that we should take away parking in Castle Street and create wider pavements, using C-19 distancing as an excuse, is silly in the extreme.

“Parking is well controlled there with over 300,000 movements a year.

“Parking, as explained to me by Denbighshire County Council highway engineers, is a natural traffic calming feature.”

He adds: “If parking there is stopped then speeds will increase, the impact on shops there will be extreme.

“No-one will be able to park and pop in. This will also impact our only bank and if that closes it will hasten the death of businesses in Llangollen.

“The Telegraph today (Sunday) reinforces my points and I urge the leaders of our council to put a stop to this nonsense.”