A long-running saga over parking fees in Powys has finally ended with an agreement to bring back one-hour tickets at all long-stay car parks. Charges were hiked as part of the 2023-24 budget from Powys’ council’s Liberal Democrat, Labour , and Green administration which came into force in April 2023. But after a fierce backlash a working group was set up in autumn 2023 to review the fees as well as other car parking arrangements. The following long-awaited changes have now been agreed by cabinet members: The review was a stormy affair in which opposition councillors called for fee reductions to get more people using car parks and visiting businesses in the town centres. They had accused the council of using car parks as a 鈥渃ash cow鈥 to help plug funding gaps in the highways, transport, and recycling department. Cabinet member for highways Jackie Charlton (Lib Dem) said: 鈥淗opefully we have something we can live with. This is a starting point. “We focused on the tariffs as it鈥檚 what members wanted but we have other things in there as well.鈥 Powys Independents joint group leader Beverley Baynham said: 鈥淚 was part of the working group and I am pleased to see this paper finally come in front of the cabinet and it鈥檚 genuinely welcomed by all members of cabinet.鈥 She added that introducing a single car park permit was 鈥渟ensible鈥 and would be welcomed by residents. Llanbrynmair councillor Gary Mitchell ( Plaid Cymru ), vice-chair of the economy scrutiny committee, said the changes were the result of a “good, honest, and robust debate”. But he added: “The report does note the frustration and the delays of reaching this point of coming to cabinet.”