PLANS to provide a new short stay car park in Cardigan town centre have been given short shrift by a leading businessman.

Martin Radley, chairman of Cardigan Traders, fears Ceredigion County Council’s proposal to convert Pendre Car Park from a private ‘permit holders only’ area will trigger a parking “free-for-all”.

County Hall, who say they have been plagued by numerous ‘challenges’ at the location, argue that such a move would ‘free-up’ much-needed parking spaces for both shoppers and patients using the nearby health centre as well as benefiting disabled drivers.

They also believe it has the potential to generate more income for the authority.

But Mr Radley – a key figure in Cardigan’s continuing campaign for free parking to help boost the town centre economy – has dismissed it as ‘a cosmetic exercise’.

“I’m afraid I just don’t believe that this is the solution we are looking for,” he told the Cambrian News.

“The truth of the matter is that we need more parking areas, not just this small one. All it needs is for someone to park awkwardly at Pendre and absolute chaos will ensue.

“This is a knee-jerk reaction from the county council which I cannot see working – all it will do is trigger more problems by creating a parking free-for-all.”

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