New pay and display parking machines on the Colwyn Bay promenade were switched on today.

The new machines were installed in June and have been sitting idle until now, being switched on just in time for the school holidays.

The second phase of installations now sees pay and display machines in place along the Colwyn Bay promenade from The Toad, right down to Rotary Way.

A further extension towards Rhos-on-Sea is in the pipeline as well.

The installation has caused uproar amongst residents and councillors who have expressed their concerns.

Millions have been spent on the beachfront in order to attract tourists, but the town’s mayor is concerned that parking charges might now drive them away.

Cllr Stephen Williams said: “I understand why the county council are doing this but I’m not sure the Colwyn Bay beach is the right place to put them.

“Tourism is our main source of revenue in the area, so I don’t think this is the right place because it might put people off from coming.”

Glyn/Colwyn Bay ward county councillor Abdul Khan campaigned unsuccessfully against the installation of the first lot of pay-and-display machines.

He said that had been “frustrating” and he was worried public consultation and opinion on these issues was falling on deaf ears.

Cllr Khan said: “The council might as well be dictators. If they are saying we are having consultation then we should listen to the public. We need to hear their voice.

“At the moment it is just a paper exercise and they are simply going with their predetermined ideas. It is very frustrating.”

Charges will apply between 10am and 4pm and will cost 50p for one hour, £1 for two, £2.50 for four and £3.50 for more than four hours.

A Conwy County Council spokesperson said money from the parking machines would be used to keep Conwy’s roads safe, clean and attractive and the maintenance of the promenade and beach.

The spokespersonn added: “The introduction of charges between Rotary Way and the pier has had no significant impact on parking habits – figures for the period February 12 to June 3 showed 7,231 people paid to park in this area.”