A special meeting of Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet has decided to revert to free parking in laybys along Princess Margaret Way on the popular Aberavon Seafront.
At the meeting, on Monday, August 4th, 2025, Cabinet Members said the strength of feeling about the imposition of charges expressed by residents, local businesses and community groups meant free lay-by parking should return as soon as possible.
The transition to free layby parking will first require the removal of existing signage and the official reversal of the summertime layby parking charges.
Then, new traffic regulations will be put in place giving free layby parking under a ‘two hour no return’ basis (marking the end of the transition period).
No enforcement of the layby parking charges will be carried out in the transition to the new arrangement.
The Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, Cllr Steve Hunt, and Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Transport and Connectivity, Cllr Wyndham Griffiths, attended a packed public meeting on the parking charges issue at the Seaside Social and Labour Club in Sandfields, Port Talbot, on June 20th, 2025.
At the meeting it emerged layby parking was used primarily by local residents who made short but frequent trips to the seafront.
Cllr Hunt said: “It was made very clear to us at that meeting how important the laybys are to people’s mental health and how important they are to local businesses and community groups and we listened and have now reverted to free parking for these laybys.”
An option to recommend reverting to free parking in the laybys was chosen by members of the council’s Visible Services and Streetscene Scrutiny Committee on July 25th, 2025 and the August 4th Special Cabinet Meeting was arranged quickly so the recommendation could be ratified as soon as possible.
Cllr Hunt added: “It’s worth noting that this council continues to face severe financial pressures and there is a need to raise income to protect the vital services we provide for our valleys, villages and towns. However, as a listening authority we also recognise the wider impact these charges have had on our communities.
“I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to express their views on this issue in so many different ways.”
