U-turn over £5 daily meter charge

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Controversial new street parking charges in Cardiff are to be reduced, only days after they were increased.

A maximum £5-a-day meter charge came in on Monday but will be lowered to £3 after the council executive was challenged by a council motion.

However, the council said it would take a month for the reductions to come into effect due to a legal notice period.

The PCS union, representing civil servants, which opposed the rise, said the development was a "victory".

The rise, from £2.40 in some cases, provoked opposition and the union said it would price workers out of parking in the city.

On Friday a council spokeswoman said: "Cardiff Council has decided to reduce the maximum on street pay and display charges from £5 to £3 following a motion of council last week.

"The decision was made by the executive at a meeting yesterday afternoon.

"Changing the tariffs will involve a legal notice period of 21 days and administration time," she added.

It's a shame they can't do something about it as soon as possible because it will hit low paid workers during this transition period, Owen Dodd, the Public Service Union

She said it would also take time to work out how to revise the charges for short stay parkers.

Owen Dodd from the PCS union said: "At least now they have listened to the representation," he said.

But Mr Dodd added the union was still concerned about the effects on workers until the prices are reverted.

"It's a shame they can't do something about it as soon as possible because it will hit low paid workers during this transition period," he added.

Earlier this year, plans for Controlled Parking Zones (CPZ) in the city's central areas were scrapped following protests.

The Liberal Democrat-run council said the voucher system was less convenient than pay and display and promoted long stay parking by commuters, at a cost of 24p an hour.

It said it wanted a simpler payment system, to encourage commuters to use public transport, cycle or walk, and to increase the availability of short-stay parking for shoppers and visitors.

On Friday, Cardiff Council also announced it would be providing more park-and-ride spaces ahead of Christmas and New Year.

Discussions are underway for an overspill area for park-and-ride sites at the international sports village in Cardiff Bay and Ikea in Ferry Road.

Meanwhile, The Hayes area will be closed to all traffic, except delivery vehicles, from 15 October until Christmas.

The council said it wanted to ensure the safety of those working on the St David's 2 development there.