Aberystwyth Town Council has urged Ceredigion County Council to rethink parking charges on the town’s promenade.

Controversial car parking charges on Aberystwyth promenade began in May.

Ceredigion County Council’s Plaid Cymru Cabinet voted to go ahead with plans to charge for parking on the prom last January.

A consultation on the plan drew 106 objections with vehement opposition from residents and businesses.

The changes saw 179 car parking spaces become chargeable along the length of New Promenade between 8am and 8pm, seven days a week.

The rates are £3.50 for two hours, and £5 for four hours.

At a meeting of Aberystwyth Town Council on 27 July, members approved a motion to “request Ceredigion County Council reconsider parking arrangements and costs in Aberystwyth to boost the economy.”

The council called for the time period for charges to be reduced to 9am to 6pm, and for the price of parking to be reduced.

Initially the implementation of the parking meters was expected to be in place by last Christmas, but delays in delivery and installation of payment machines meant that the council hoped to have the charges in place by Easter.

That start date was also missed, before eventually going live on 18 May.

Before the changes residents and visitors could park on the promenade for between two and four hours for free, depending where on the seafront they park.

Start-up costs, including new ticket machines, signs, and bay painting were estimated at around £150,000, along with increased staff costs.

Objections received during a consultation on the plans said the move will “drive people out of town” and called the plan “completely and utterly unnecessary.”

The council said the charges would “act as a deterrent to commuter and long-term parking related traffic from circulating the seafront in search of available free spaces.”