Those parking at Cosmeston Lakes and Porthkerry Country Parks are charged daily from 9am to 10pm, but life has become easier for those who prefer to make the most of the early mornings.
To pay, customers are given the option of paying through the machine on site using coins only, or with card through the ‘PayByPhone’ app.
This app allows drivers to locate parking before leaving toward their destination and also provides the closest parking location number to enter, once on site.
Until recently, the app was only active from 9am, when parking charges started, meaning that those visiting either park before charges applied would have to either carry coins or ensure they paid online at nine on the dot.
Now, the app has been modified so that those parking and paying online can pre-pay for their parking before the charges start at 9am.
This makes life a lot easier on busy mornings, like that of the parkrun on a Saturday at Cosmeston Lakes, meaning that parkgoers can skip the queues at the machines and now no longer have to carry money or bank cards on them to pay at said ticket machines – making it a lot easier to get to the start line on time.
Charges remain the same as before this change was implemented, with an hour costing £1, two hours costing £2.10, four hours costing £4.20, and all day costing £5.20 for those driving cars.
Bus drivers still pay £34 for an entire day in either car park.
Country Park season tickets are also still available, costing £45 for six months or £65 for 12 months. These season tickets can be used in both Cosmeston and Porthkerry country parks.
More information is available on the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s ‘Parking at Country Parks’ site.
