Council enforcing ‘sunset tax’ by charging to park at seaside after 5pm

Denbighshire Council has increased parking tariffs and extended chargeable hours amid ‘budgetary pressures’ – Alamy

A parking row has erupted in north Wales after a council was accused of forcing residents to pay to see the sunset.

Residents in seaside towns in Denbighshire such as Prestatyn and Rhyl often visit local beaches for an evening walk in the spring and summer months, where parking would be free after 5pm.

This provision was withdrawn by Denbighshire Council amid “budgetary pressures” earlier this year however, with parking charges now levied until 11pm in the summer, which has prompted uproar in recent weeks as evening temperatures rise.

When Denbighshire Council increased parking tariffs in March, it also extended chargeable hours. In most cases, fees are now payable from 8am until 11pm. In some car parks, such as Rhyl Harbour, charging hours start at 6am. In others, like Nova West, Prestatyn, fees are payable only until 8pm over winter.

The local authority said it had researched what other councils were doing and had altered its charging structure accordingly, saying evening tariffs weren’t unusual. In the county, many now start from £1.50 for two hours in winter, rising to £2 for the rest of the year. A few are a little cheaper.

People staying all evening are now charged up to £5 in summer or £3 in winter, when previously it was free.

On social media a woman from Prestatyn, said: “If you pay local council tax, it should include free parking passes. We live here… why do we have to pay to see the sunset or sunrise in our own town?”

Another resident said: “We used to like going down to the beach to sit in our van and watch the sunsets,” he said. “But with these ridiculous charges, especially for locals, we refuse to pay them, and now have to do without that pleasure. Utter disgrace that people should be forced to pay just to enjoy a sunset.”

Residents in seaside towns such as Rhyl often visit local beaches for an evening walk in the spring and summer months – Freelance Photos North Wales

Beaches, when accessible, are also valued by dog owners. One woman said: “Many of us locals used to go there after 5pm to walk our dogs, enjoy the evening, unwind and make the most of our area – good for body and soul. Unfortunately, no more.”

Neighbouring Conwy Council has a similar policy, charging either £1.20 or £2 for post-6pm parking at most of its car parks. However, there are some seafront concessions, such as Colwyn Bay promenade and The Parade in Llandudno, which are free after 4pm. Abergele Town Council subsidises its coastal car park at Pensarn to enable free parking at all times.

In Denbighshire, there are also concerns that nighttime parking will affect local businesses on the coast. The Nova Centre in Prestatyn opens until 9.30pm while Rhyl Pavilion Theatre is often later still. Showgoers using the official car park now face an extra £4-£5 cost – comparable with Venue Cymru, Llandudno, which charges a flat rate of £4.80 after 6pm.

When Denbighshire’s new charging regime was introduced in March, it caused outrage among users of Marine Lake, Rhyl. Joggers and dog walkers labelled the move an “exercise tax” on the only saltwater lake in North Wales.

The changes have prompted some residents to consider buying permits so they can continue visiting local beaches – though Denbighshire’s beach permit does not cover all the county’s coastal car parks, including Sky Tower in Rhyl. The annual cost of buying these also rose sharply in April, from £65 to £80.

For concessions (aged 60-plus), beach permits increased from £35 to £50. Denbighshire Council has said parking permits can offer “significant savings” for regular pay-and-display users.

Denbighshire Council was approached for a comment.

Play The Telegraph’s brilliant range of Puzzles – and feel brighter every day. Train your brain and boost your mood with PlusWord, the Mini Crossword, the fearsome Killer Sudoku and even the classic Cryptic Crossword.