Drivers have been warned they have less than two weeks to share views on major changes to parking rules across a major Welsh city which, if approved, will see new restrictions come into force impacting thousands.
Cardiff Council recently launched a consultation into new parking measures across the city, but this period is set to end on December 1 with drivers urged to share views beforehand.
The proposal will create new parking zones with different restrictions and permit requirements, affecting residents, businesses, and visitors. The local authority explained that the changes are necessary to help prioritise parking for those in need such as Blue Badge holders.
The new approach will also encourage fewer drivers to park in the city centre as well as reduce congestion by making sustainable travel alternatives more attractive.
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Parking changes would impact number of residents given permits in the city
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Under the new plans, Cardiff will be divided into two parking areas, Central and Peripheral. The Central Area surrounds the A48 to the north, River Rhymney to the east, Cardiff Bay to the south and River Ely to the west.
It includes regions such as Canton, Grangetown, Riverside, Gabalfa, Cathays, Plasnewydd, Adamsdown, Butetown, Splott and Penylan. Meanwhile, the Peripheral Area covers everywhere else in the city.
The Central Area will be divided into four parking management zones with varying restrictions applied. In the City Centre zone, parking restrictions will be in place 24/7, with no new resident permits being issued and existing permits being phased out when owners move.
In the Inner-City zone, which covers parts of Riverside, Grangetown, Cathays, Butetown, Adamsdown and Plasnewydd, there will be restrictions in place from 8am to 10pm daily.
The Bay Area zone will have parking measures in place between 8am and 8pm, with resident parking restrictions applying 24/7.
The Outer zone, including Canton, Gabalfa, Splott and parts of other central districts, will have controlled parking measures operating between 8am and 6pm, with resident restrictions also applying daily.
Non-permit holders in these zones will also be limited to short-stay parking, ranging from one to four hours depending on the zone. Each zone will have designated bays for permit holders, pay and stay users, and Blue Badge holders, council documents explained.
Under the new proposals, residents of eligible properties can apply for up to two permits for their vehicles. They will also be able to request up to 240 days of visitor parking per year, but with a new cap introduced to prevent misuse of visitor permits.
To be eligible, applicants must be living at their primary address, have a vehicle registered at the property and have a valid council tax reference.
However, not all residents will qualify. Properties built or converted after September 2011 (in old zones) or September 2024 (in new zones) are excluded. This has left many residents furious as under the old scheme they would have been eligible for parking permits.
One person shared on social media: “So you pay council tax, car tax and this is now just another tax in another attempt to drive car owners off the road! Everywhere within Cardiff Council zone, not just the City Centre.”
“How to destroy the city economy in one easy stroke, businesses will have to increase prices, those that cannot afford to pay increased wages claims will fold (you’ll need a permit to park both at work and at your residence, if you’re going out of your permit area). We have to stop this!”
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The council is encouraging as many people as possible to provide feedback on the proposed changes through an online consultation before it closes on December 1, at which point, the council will assess feedback.
