NEWCASTLE EMLYN businesses have welcomed the news that car parking in the town will be free between 10am-2pm from Mondays to Wednesdays.

Periods of free parking in council-run short stay car parks are being introduced across Carmarthenshire as part of a new pilot initiative and Newcastle Emlyn is one of the towns to benefit.

From yesterday (Monday, October 29), visitors to the county’s main towns will be able to park for free if they arrive and stay within those certain hours.

The initiative has been launched by Carmarthenshire County Council to support town centre traders.

Visitors will still need to obtain a ticket and display it as normal, however the ticket will be issued with no charge.

Newcastle Emlyn Traders Association chairman Anne Evans said: “This is excellent news and something that the town traders have been campaigning for.

“We cherish the occasional free parking day so this is very much to be welcomed. Hopefully we will get similar good news on the toilet situation.”

The pilot scheme is in addition to the five free parking days the council offers town centres every year, which makes over 15,000 free spaces available to complement pre-planned events.

So far this year, the council has provided free parking on a number of days, such as the Fair Trade awareness day in Newcastle Emlyn in March and the town’s annual food festival back in June.

Stephen Pilliner, head of highways and transport, said: “This pilot initiative has been brought in as a way of supporting traders during the days and times they have told us are their quieter periods.”