A COUNCILLOR has waded into the debate over the town’s parklets claiming some are hardly used and they need maintenance, something he feels the Vale Council cannot afford.

The opinion of Cllr Anthony Ernest is at opposites with Windsor Tea Rooms owner Jason Payter who says his parklet brings in an annual turnover of £60,000, and £7,500 in taxes.

Cllr Ernest, Plymouth ward representative at county council, says the parklets need maintenance, something the council cannot afford, but did call for a better process in pulling them down.

In his full statement Mr Ernest said: "Some of the ‘parklets’ have been put to good use during the epidemic, but some others were hardly used.

“They are now starting to need maintenance, and quite frankly the Vale Council does not have the money to carry on without additional resources being available.

“However there should have been a proper discussion with those businesses affected, to see what alternatives might be available, and not to just remove them without proper consideration, which is proving hard on those outlets who have invested good money in their local parklets."

Parklets in PenarthParklets in Penarth (Image: Newsquest)

You’ve seen them about the town. Parklet outdoor seating areas have become something of a destination in Penarth – the sheltered outdoor seating areas on the side of roads.

Some businesses are devastated Vale Council is in the process of beginning to remove them, such as Foxy’s Deli and Windsor Tea Rooms.

Windsor Tea Rooms owner Mr Payter previously told us: “I’m grateful for them being there in Covid and helping the recovery, but we are still recovering.

“We have older customers who still do not have the confidence to come inside. It will definitely affect my business if they go.”

Windsor Tea Rooms parklet outdoor seating areaWindsor Tea Rooms parklet outdoor seating area (Image: Newsquest)

Others, such as Waterloo Tea Room on Stanwell Road, are not to bothered about losing them.

Manager of Waterloo Tea, Andrea Medgyesi, previously said: “They do not really affect our business.

“We did have to pay to keep the windows clean and water the plants. It was a bit of extra work for us.”

Vale Council’s latest position on parklets is they are not going to be removed immediately, with the council is still considering how and when this will happen.

The council emphasised parklets were always intended as temporary structures, and that the council will work with affected business to minimise any disruption.