All charges are being withdrawn from car parks in Swansea to help key workers who need to leave their vehicles in the city centre.
From today parking is free at all surface pay and display car parks owned by Swansea Council.
As well as pay and display sites, charges will be removed in the High Street multi-storey car park, to help in the council’s response to the coronavirus crisis.
However, the St David’s and Quadrant multi-storey car parks will close on Tuesday, and all Park and Ride services will cease to operate.
After social distancing measures were introduced, along with unprecedented restrictions on people’s movement announced on Monday, the measures are intended to prevent people congregating on buses or at the St David’s and Quadrant sites.
The move to free parking is being made to support workers within the NHS and other essential services, as listed by the government as key in fighting the coronavirus pandemic, who have no other choice but to park in the city centre.
Last week, Swansea Council announced it would be reopening many of the city’s schools to provide childcare for children of key workers and to provide food to children who are entitled to free school meals.
Mark Thomas, cabinet member for environment and infrastructure management, said: “These are the right steps to take as part of our overall response to the crisis and they will remain in place until further notice.
“We want to re-emphasise that people visiting the city centre should do so only if their travel is essential and in line with the UK Government orders issued by the Prime Minister on Monday. In addition, people must observe the rules on social distancing.”
