CARDIGAN town councillors have welcomed moves which could result in parking fees being scrapped in Ceredigion towns.

Funding for a pilot scheme to end town centre car-parking charges is one of several Plaid spending priorities included in the latest Welsh Assembly draft Budget.

Town mayor Cllr Clive Davies said the question of town centre parking had been a long-standing issue with traders in Cardigan.

When the ticket machine in one of the town’s car parks was vandalised, traders said it resulted in a boost in trade and they have been calling for free parking on all Saturdays in December in the run-up to Christmas.

AM Elin Jones has maintained that parking should be free of charge to give small, independent high-street shops a much-needed boost.

“This latest Plaid priority sees the setting-up of a £3m pilot fund to help local authorities shoulder the burden of providing free parking,” said Cllr Davies.

Describing the move as “excellent news” for Ceredigion, Cllr Catrin Miles said: “The local authority still faces severe cutbacks in the coming financial years and we must see this as a great opportunity for Cardigan town. We must push for Ceredigion to be first in line in this pilot scheme.

“It would give Cardigan town centre an added boost and sits well with one of the priorities identified by the Town Centre Partnership.”

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