Latest news with #LlandudnoSnowsportsCentre
Wales Online
9 hours ago
- Automotive
- Wales Online
Parking fees at famous Welsh landmark triggers hunt for 'free' spaces
Parking fees at famous Welsh landmark triggers hunt for 'free' spaces Conwy County Council introduced charges to the Great Orme's summit car park and it's had an immediate effect elsewhere A view of Llandudno's Great Orme from above Dwygyfylchi (Image: David Powell ) Conwy's rising public car park fees are reportedly shifting demand to other facilities within the area. This month, parking charges were introduced at a previously free popular spot on Llandudno's Great Orme. Llandudno Snowsports Centre (LSC) states that rising parking fees at the council's summit car park left them with no choice but to impose their own charges due to the influx of visitors looking for cheaper options. Nigel Treacy, the centre's manager, has observed people turning to his site from pricier town centre parking, with local hotels directing guests there due to free parking. "Some people were being sent here by local hotels," he revealed. "They recommended us because the parking was free. We know this because we heard it from hotel guests." The Llandudno Snowsports Centre's car park which was previously free (Image: Google ) With effect from June, Parking Eye is overseeing the new LSC parking fee of £2 for up to six hours. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here Despite the change, some regulars were unprepared; a father who received a £100 fine while watching his son ski vented frustration online, which would drop to £60 if paid within 28 days, reports North Wales Live. Article continues below "I always thought it was free as have never paid before," he lamented. Amidst reductions in funding from the Welsh Government, Conwy Council has consistently raised parking rates over recent years. Charge rates do vary, yet they generally range from £1.50 for an hour up to £7.50 for a four-hour stay, with some seafront spots starting at £5.50. Previously free car parks have also seen the introduction of pay-and-display, with recent upgrades leading to charges at sites in Llanrwst and Llanfairfechan. The Council has cited stretched budgets as the reason for this change, stating it's striving to safeguard essential services within the county. The strategy involves enhancing revenue while scaling back on non-critical services. The council acknowledges that raising parking fees is one of the "difficult choices" it faces in its efforts to manage financial pressures. In Llandudno, where parking demand spikes during the tourist season, plans are afoot for a new "summer" car park, with rates beginning at £2.30 for an hour. Amid these developments, Mr Treacy has decided to implement charges at LSC to ensure parking availability for patrons. He remarked that some customers feel their rates are still too low, saying: "People tell us we're still too cheap!". He compared their pricing, saying: "£2 for up to six hours equates to 33p per hour. In contrast, the (Great Orme) summit car park is £5.50 for up to four hours, equivalent to £1.37 per hour – more than four times as much." LSC's facilities have seen significant investment, including a £300,000 refurbishment five years ago of its 200-metre dry ski slope – the longest in Wales – which now features a more bouncier surface and a 300-head sprinkler system. Additionally, LSC boasts the longest Cresta Toboggan run which is also the longest at 575 metres, as well as with Sno-tubing and "Alpine" crazy golf. Publicity for the new parking charges commenced a month prior to their implementation, leaving Mr Treacy somewhat puzzled as to how any customers could be oblivious to them. "We sat down with the operator and looked at the factors people were most concerned about with parking," he said. "Signage is a big issue – drivers often complain they're not aware of charging. "So we've covered the site in parking signs. They are four provided signs at the entrances, and 13 in the car parks and around the building. We've also paid for an extra 24 signs around the site. "Staff have been instructed to remind customers upon arrival – the last thing we want is for people to incur fines. "We also have multiple ways of paying – coins, contactless and online – and we have a 35-minute grace period without the need to pay: the industry standard is 10 minutes. This is for people who need to make quick bookings or for motorists who accidentally drive up here." The main car park, along with a smaller one located slightly downhill, now feature pay-and-display machines. They can be accessed via a single-lane road through Happy Valley gardens. Both facilities have been labelled as "basic", being gravelled surfaces first installed in 1986 and currently showing signs of wear. LSC has long harboured plans to refurbish them. "Eight years ago we looked at surfacing them with Tarmac but it was felt they would deteriorate too quickly without expensive new drainage," explained Mr Treacy. Initial designs have been proposed for new car parks estimated to cost about £250,000. Yet, justifying such expenditure is challenging given the current frosty economic conditions, particularly within leisure and tourism industries. Article continues below The introduction of new parking fees is anticipated to mitigate financial risks. "We going to need a lot of cars paying £2 a time to get near the target," Mr Treacy remarked.
North Wales Live
21 hours ago
- Automotive
- North Wales Live
Conwy's soaring parking fees leaves Great Orme site swamped and forced to act
Soaring fees at Conwy's public car parks are 'displacing" demand to other facilities in the county, it's been claimed. Parking charges were this introduced this month at a popular spot on Llandudno's Great Orme that's long been free to use. Llandudno Snowsports Centre (LSC) said it had little option but to start charging because it was being swamped by visitors deterred by rising fees at the council's summit car park. Manager Nigel Treacy said others were gravitating to the site from town centre car parks. 'Some people were being sent here by local hotels,' he said. 'They recommended us because the parking was free. We know this because we heard it from hotel guests." From the start of June, a parking charge of £2 for up to six hours was introduced, overseen by Parking Eye. Some regulars have already been caught out by the switch: this week a dad watching his son on the ski slope complained of receiving a £100 fine – reduced to £60 if paid within 28 days. 'I always thought it was free as have never paid before,' he grumbled online. In recent years Conwy Council has steadily upped parking charges to off-set dwindling income from the Welsh Government. Prices vary by location but fees typically start at £1.50 for one hour, up to £7.50 for four hours. Some promenade parking now starts at £5.50. Previously free car parks have also been targeted, with pay-and-display recently introduced at facilities in Llanrwst and Llanfairfechan following planned upgrades. Council Council said its budgets are stretched and it's doing everything it can to protect vital services in the county. This includes boosting revenue as well as cutting back on non-essential services. Increasing parking fees are among the "difficult choices" it's having to make, said the local authority. In Llandudno, peak season demand for parking is so high that the local authority is currently consulting on a new 'summer' car park. Prices will start at £2.30 for one hour. It is against this background that Mr Treacy felt compelled to start charging at LSC, to safeguard spaces for customers. 'People tell us we're still too cheap!' he said. '£2 for up to six hours equates to 33p per hour. In contrast, the (Great Orme) summit car park is £5.50 for up to four hours, equivalent to £1.37 per hour – more than four times as much.' Five years ago the centre's 200-metre dry ski slope – the longest in Wales – underwent a £300,000 upgrade – to create a bouncier surface lubricated by a 300-head sprinkler system. LSC also offers a Cresta Toboggan run which, at 575 metres, is also the longest in Wales, as well as Sno-tubing and 'Alpine' crazy golf. Publicity for the new parking charges began a month before they were introduced. It's left Mr Treacy slightly mystified as to how any customers would be unaware of them. 'We sat down with the operator and looked at the factors people were most concerned about with parking,' he said. 'Signage is a big issue – drivers often complain they're not aware of charging. "So we've covered the site in parking signs. They are four provided signs at the entrances, and 13 in the car parks and around the building. We've also paid for an extra 24 signs around the site. 'Staff have been asked to remind customers when they come in – the last thing we want is to see people being fined. 'We also have multiple ways of paying – coins, contactless and online – and we have a 35-minute grace period without the need to pay: the industry standard is 10 minutes. This is for people who need to make quick bookings or for motorists who accidentally drive up here.' The main car park, and smaller one, a little downhill, now have pay-and-display machines. They're acessed via a single-lane road up through Happy Valley gardens. Both facilities have been described as 'basic', being gravelled surfaces first laid in 1986 and now suffering from erosion. LSC has long aimed to upgrade them. 'Eight years ago we looked at surfacing them with Tarmac but it was felt they would deteriorate too quickly without expensive new drainage,' said Mr Treacy. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox Preliminary designs have now been drawn up for new parking facilities costing around £250,000. However it's hard to justify the outlay when the economic climate is chilly, especially in the lesiure and tourism sectors. It's hoped to new parking charges will help offset the risk. 'We going to need a lot of cars paying £2 a time to get near the target,' added Mr Treacy.
