Bridgend Town Centre Christmas Car Parking

The Lib Dem / Tory Bridgend Council coalition need to think again and reconsider their decision to axe free Christmas car parking in Bridgend town centre.

Christmas is traditionally the busiest time of the year for local traders and as a town we need to make a clear statement to people that we really want them to come and shop here.

Neighbouring local authorities, such as Labour run Neath Port Talbot, are taking the festive period seriously and offering free car parking in the run up to Christmas. Unfortunately it seems that Bridgend is being left behind with the Tories and Lib Dems going in the opposite direction and getting rid of one of our best selling points.

The coalition’s decision is very short sighted. Every town across South Wales will be fighting it out over the next few months to encourage people to do their Christmas shopping there. The scrapping of this scheme, though, completely sends out the wrong signal.

There is still time for the ruling group to do the right thing and show that they are committed to supporting local businesses by reversing their policy on this issue. I hope they will see sense and provide what the previous Labour administration did.