The Colwyn Bay Mayor has asked commuters and visitors to boycott parking on the promenade following the introduction of pay and display ticket machines.

Councillor Jeff Pearson labelled Conwy County Borough Council (CCBC) "clowns" on social media after work began installing the ticket machines along the Colwyn Bay promenade last week which he said was "ridiculous".

He said: "This is typical Conwy County Council, we are trying to attract people into Colwyn Bay and just as we've got a new beach, now they are charging people to come and visit.

"I encourage people not to use them. If they are not used they have to take them away."

Colwyn Bay Town Council ran a survey last summer which showed 85 per cent of beach goers said they would boycott the area if paid parking was introduced.

Mr Pearson said a drop in numbers to the promenade could also have a negative affect on businesses, like the kiosks on the beach front, and came just as the council are set to increase taxes as well.

He said: "They (CCBC) put the tax up on one side, then take away what people are supposed to be getting for their tax."

The introduction of paid parking on the Colwyn Bay promenade has also raised concerns with Clwyd West Member of Parliament David Jones who has urged the council to reconsider.

Mr Jones said: "This is a very unwelcome development. I have opposed the plans to impose charges on the seafront for several months and remain unhappy that the Council are proceeding.

"The charges are a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist.

"Colwyn Bay is slowly regenerating, and the County Council are to be congratulated for the work they have done to improve the promenade.

"Charges for parking will be deeply damaging, and act as a deterrent to visitors to our excellent new beach and the facilities around it."

The ticket machines are set to come into affect at the end of the month.