HARLECH residents are pleading with Gwynedd Council to reconsider new parking proposals which they claim will “sabotage” the town’s recovery.

Council chiefs plan to paint double yellow lines along some streets in the town centre, which will force residents and workers who currently park there to use the town’s pay-and-display car parks.

Jan Cole, one of the proprietors of the Cemlyn Teashop on the town’s main street, is deeply concerned by the move.

“The current roadside parking in Parc Bron Y Graig is used by residents of the High Street and the workers in the cafés and shops in the High Street,” she told the Cambrian News.

“Limiting the options for parking in Parc Bron y Graig would mean that more people would have to park in the car parks thus leaving less room for visitors and less income for the shops, cafés and local businesses.”

The teashop owner went on to suggest that the council was “sabotaging” the town’s recovery.

“Gwynedd County Council should be looking at innovative ways to increase footfall in our seaside towns not dissuading visitors from stopping,” she said.

“Harlech has suffered two very hard years of trading due to the castle development and the bridge fiasco,” Mrs Cole added.

“Now, just as we should be starting our return to normal we find out that the council is once again determined to sabotage our recovery.

“Have they looked at Harlech High Street recently?

“We have lived and traded here for 15 years and during that time there have never been as many closed businesses and empty shops as there are at the moment."

Mrs Cole believes that the scheme is also financially short-sighted.

Currently a Harlech resident can purchase a ‘season ticket’ in the council’s car park for approximately £120.

Mrs Cole says that, hypothetically, if 10 of the town’s limited spaces are taken up by locals then the council will earn £1,200.

However if the spaces are made available for visitors, who would spend £3 each time they used the spot throughout the day, then the council can potentially earn a far greater sum, she said.

In response, a Gwynedd Council spokesperson said: “Gwynedd Council’s Transportation Service is currently consulting on proposals to introduce parking restrictions on parts of Rock Terrace, Bron y Graig and High Street.

“The proposals put forward have been designed to minimise the impact on parking capacity in Harlech, whilst also easing the road safety and access concerns of local residents.

“At Bron y Graig the proposal is to introduce double yellow lines on one side of the road only from property no. 3 to 17 Bron y Graig, and on both sides of the road outside no. 17, 18 and at the end of the road.

“The road is currently too narrow for vehicles to park on both sides of the road while maintaining access for local residents.

“This proposal has been designed to address the issues raised by residents who were concerned that parked vehicles were preventing access to their properties.

“The public consultation is open until 18 January for anyone wishing to submit their views,” the spokesperson added.