PLANS to allow shoppers to park in designated loading bays in Windsor Road have been passed to the Vale of Glamorgan Council, after local business owners suggested the restrictions could damage the town’s appeal.

The Penarth Traders Forum – made up of local business owners – carried out a study to assess how parking bays were being utilised along the town’s busiest street.

Speaking on behalf of the forum, Justin Horton, owner of children’s clothes store Funky Monkey, said that town centre parking issues were a frequent topic at meetings, and expressed concern that the lack of parking currently available could be discouraging visitors to the town.

“It’s difficult to find a space, and that’s going to put people off coming to Penarth, which in turn is going to affect our businesses,” said Mr Horton, 45.

“We also get complaints from customers because they get booked quite often. Windsor Road in Penarth is the second most booked area in the Vale. That’s costing people £30, £40, maybe £60. It puts people off, and we think part of the reason for that is the loading bays."

The forum carried out a week-long survey to assess the number of cars using the bays between 9am and 3pm each day, and what they were using it for.

On average, more than 38 per cent of available spaces were being used for loading at 9am, however this dropped to just 6.67 per cent by 3pm.

In comparison, almost a quarter of all spaces were left vacant at any one time, while many of those using the spaces were parked there illegally.

Current regulations allow for drivers to park for up to an hour in some bays after midday, however Mr Horton says that this is not only unclear to new visitors to the town but also argues that shop owners typically do not need the loading bay provision so late in the day.

“Clearly there’s no need for these bays to operate until midday," he added.

"Very few people are loading and an awful lot of people are being fined, or they're being left empty which is a complete waste of parking space."

The traders hope that by amending the bays, an additional 12 parking spaces would be created in Windsor Road.

Vale council highways and engineering manager, Mike Clogg, said: “The council is currently working on a car parking strategy for the Vale, with a report due to be considered in the spring.

“No review of loading bay use will take place until after this point and any change would only occur after detailed usage studies have been carried out.”