TOUGH new restrictions are being brought to a Llandudno retail park to clamp down on motorists taking advantage of free parking.
From Friday July 1, shoppers at the Mostyn Champneys Retail Park will be limited to three hours of free parking on the site, with an £80 fine issued to motorists exceeding the new limit.
Park manager Colin Gilligan said the new measures were being introduced to stop visitors to the town depriving shoppers of a parking space.
“Although we have recognised for some time that we are probably the most attractive parking location in the town, conveniently located and entirely free, we have also become aware of the growing number of non-shoppers who leave their vehicles for long periods, and at busy times deprive our genuine shoppers of a legitimate parking space,” Mr Gilligan said.
“We believe that the new three-hour limit is a fair scheme that more than caters for the average time shoppers are likely to spend on the Park, will guarantee available parking at all times and still represents the best parking facility in the town.”
From Friday onwards, vehicles entering and leaving the shopping centre will be scanned by cameras to catch shoppers abusing the free parking on the site.
Mr Gilligan also said that the new measures were not being introduced as a method of raising funds, and are solely intended to improve the shopping experience of visitors to the retail park.
“The intention is not to catch people out or use this as a revenue raising scheme,” he said.
“We want our genuine shoppers to enjoy the three-hour parking, and at the same time make all other motorists fully aware of their responsibilities.”