Town centre car parks are free to use after six

As part of its support for the local night-time economy, Bridgend County Borough Council is reminding visitors and shoppers that the majority of council-run town centre car parks are free to use after 6pm.

With shops offering extended business hours in the run-up to Christmas, several new businesses opening their doors and a number of restaurants, pubs and nightclubs all available, several council car parks in Bridgend and Porthcawl are available with 24 hour access.

In Bridgend town centre, the large open air car park at Brackla Street (behind Wilkinsons) and car parks in locations such as Tremains Road, Tondu Road and at Bridgend Life Centre are all free to use after 6pm, but barriers at the Rhiw multi-storey close at 7pm to prevent anti-social behaviour.

At Porthcawl, council-run car parks at John Street and Hillsboro Place are free to use after 6pm, and free parking is available along the seafront. Free full-time car parking is also available in Maesteg town centre at the Llynfi Road multistorey, and in Pencoed town centre at Penprysg Road and Alyson Way.

The night time economy is just as important to local town centres as day time trade, but this is especially the case during the festive season as people shop for gifts or celebrate with meals or a night out.

As well as abundant free car parking after 6pm in several council-maintained car parks and year-round free car parking in Maesteg and Pencoed, people who visit Bridgend and Porthcawl town centres during the day can also take advantage of an ongoing special offer which we have extended all the way up to April 2023.

The offer is enabling drivers using the Rhiw multi storey car park in Bridgend to park for up to three hours free of charge, while visitors using the john Street carpark in Porthcawl can park for free between noon and 3pm each day.

Councillor Neelo Farr, Cabinet Member for Regeneration