Multi-million-pound plans to renovate Aberystwyth’s Old College include proposals that would see parking meters installed on a large section of the promenade and a town centre street.

Documents lodged as part of Aberystwyth University’s plans to develop the Old College and provide a new hotel have outlined how the university wants Ceredigion County Council to introduce parking meters on the promenade between the pier and Castle Point, as well as in King Street.

That is despite the council not having discussed the possibility of parking meters on the promenade following a consultant’s report into possible meters in 2016.

The university’s plans also include striking a deal with St Michael’s Church to provide 30 new parking spaces linked to the new hotel.

But it is the introduction of meters on a large stretch of the prom and in a town centre street that are likely to prove controversial.

A design and access statement included in the application says: “It is also proposed that car parking controls and charges will be implemented along King Street and New Promenade, converting the current unrestricted car parking into metered car parking facilities.”

Consultants carried out the Aberystwyth Promenade Parking Study in January 2016 to look into the possibility of parking meters being introduced on the prom.

However, that study was never made public by the council and never discussed at a meeting of councillors, with no decision made on meters.

A council spokesperson was asked if the authority was considering introducing parking meters in line with the university’s wishes, but a spokesman did not answer the question, instead saying that parking issues would be considered as part of the planning application.

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