The general manager of Cardiff’s oldest hotel says he’s lost business because the building doesn’t have any car parking.
John Swingler says the Royal Hotel on St. Mary Street has lost “a significant amount of business” since customers are unable to park near the building.
The nearest bus and train station are about ten minutes away, meaning guests who may be carrying heavy luggage will have to walk a long way there and back.
St. Mary Street and Queen Street were pedestrianised in 2010. Mr. Swingler says ‘Parking became increasingly more difficult after the pedestrianisation. This has put a strain on many guests, especially those arriving from another country, who will usually arrive by taxi.’
There is a bus stop directly outside the hotel but Mr. Swingler says it has not been used for the past three years and guests have been fined for parking there.
He also says he’s appealed to the council on many occasions to turn this unused bus stop into a parking bay, “but so far nothing has been done.”
A City of Cardiff Council spokesperson told CJS News there were plans to improve parking in the area and it would be prepared to meet with Mr Swingler to discuss the issue.
But Mr. Swingler says if a parking bay isn’t built soon, his business will go under.
