A TOWN council expressed astonishment after 12 months of hard work to achieve a free town centre parking scheme was unexpectedly ‘shut down’ by senior councillors.

Buckley Town Council has been negotiating with Flintshire Council since last year over the prospect of providing six months of free car parking a year in the town centre to benefit visitors, residents and businesses from August this year.

Cllr Richard Jones said meetings on the matter have so far been supportive and town councillors even factored in £45,000 into their annual budget to pay the county council for the money it would lose in ticket sales.

But at the town council's meeting last week it was announced by clerk Martin Wright that the county council has rejected the offer.

Of further concern to councillors was the manner in which the decision had been made - which Mr Wright explained had been during an informal discussion by Flintshire Council's 'informal cabinet' members, despite his request it be considered during an official cabinet meeting.

Cllr Jones, who has been working on the proposals for more than a year, told the meeting he was 'astonished' by the decision - explaining the fact the discussion held in private removed the democratic right to have it seen by the public and to call in decisions.

He added: "Never once was I given indication we would be turned down, in fact it was the opposite.

"I think what happened was they realised that perhaps we got it right - so right that they shut it down before any other town council decided to do the same thing.

"It is a disgrace, the process is flawed. I think in the strongest terms we need to find a way to complain."

Further criticism of the decision came from Buckley mayor Cllr David Ellis, who said: "We're doing our best to try and regenerate this town and what we need is a little bit of help - I don't think this is a lot to ask."

Cllr Carol Ellis added: "It suggests that this - and our town - is not important enough to go to the cabinet for discussion. I feel embarrassed about that decision as a Flintshire county councillor."

In a letter to the town council, seen by the Leader, Flintshire Council's chief officer for streetscene and transportation Steve Jones explains the scheme failed to meet the principles of the car parking strategy.

In explaining why, he writes the scheme would remove available car parking spaces which are intended for short stay visitors as they would be taken up by businesses and shop workers.

But in response to that statement Mr Wright told councillors: "That argument would stand true if the car park was full and those people were taking spaces from visitors.

"I am not aware that car park has been full ever since I have been the clerk here."

Mr Wright also told the meeting he had advised the county council of a letter from Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami supporting the scheme and is still trying to find out whether cabinet members were made aware of it before deciding.

However Flintshire Council has said it will consider a free parking scheme for Christmas, Mr Wright added.

Harvey Mitchell, waste and ancillary services manager at Flintshire Council, said: "Officers of the council have been in dialogue with Buckley Town Council (BTC) over the last 12 months considering various proposals that would align with the current car parking policy, which has been subject to considerable prior debate and scrutiny.

“The proposal put forward by BTC did not align with council policy and members of the cabinet decided it would not be appropriate to proceed with it and that further discussions were required.

"The council are willing to meet further with BTC if requested to explore other workable options that meet the current policy.

“The letter sent in by Mark Tami MP did not present any new information and will be responded to separately by the chief officer and cabinet member.”