CARMARTHEN’S Chamber of Trade has written to the county council leader Emlyn Dole to ‘express frustration’ at indiscriminate parking on Nott Square – which they claim is being exacerbated by council employees.
Nott Square has a long history of parking issues, and a number of solutions have been tried over the years – including placing large planters in the square as a deterrent.
In their letter to Cllr Emlyn Dole, the Chamber accepted that CCC was aware of the parking issues, which they added were having a negative effect on traders operating their businesses at viable levels.
“We also understand that the Council is in contact with the Welsh Assembly with regard to gaining more direct control over prevention of parking in these areas. We would be grateful if you could update us regarding current progress in these matters,” they added.
“Unfortunately it appears that the issue is being exacerbated by indiscriminate parking of the Council’s own vehicles directly outside businesses on Nott Square causing shop frontages to be fully obscured, and restricting business visibility and customer access.”
Pictures show vans with CCC livery parked in the square, which traders told the Chamber ‘have been parked and left outside their businesses for prolonged periods during business hours, with no obvious Council activity taking place in the area’.
“We understand from the traders that they have asked the Council workers to relocate their vehicles, but their requests have so far been unheeded,” they added. “This has occurred on a number of occasions over recent days. I am sure that you appreciate the additional level of frustration that is being caused to the affected businesses as a result.
“It is disappointing that the Council and Council staff are not demonstrating a more proactive and responsive approach to prevent their own vehicles adding to the congestion in this area.”
Cllr Hazel Evans, executive board member responsible for environment, said: “The council has proceeded with an application to secure the appropriate legislative powers to deal with the matter of enforcement of traffic offences on Nott Square.
“This is at the final stage of a lengthy process. Once the powers are secured, the council will actively enforce the area to deal with offending vehicles. There are a limited number of exemptions for certain services, where vehicles are permitted to park whilst undertaking essential public/utility maintenance works.
“Whenever there is a requirement for a council vehicle to be at the square, we will reiterate advice to our staff to park considerately when undertaking work in the vicinity of Nott Square and to liaise with the appropriate businesses.”
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