Car parks across Wales have received scathing reviews from people online, with some claiming that many are unsafe or overcharging for parking. Out of multiple Google reviews, these are deemed the worst car parks to use in Wales.
Out of our findings, an NCP car park in Newport received the worst rating, with a one-star review after a visitor claimed to have received a ticket for being five minutes late returning to his car. In second place was St Marks Road car park in Wrexham which is frequently used by visitors to the city. It is the lowest rated in Wrexham according to Google Reviews, with a 1.6 rating out of 47 reviews. Out of the 47 reviews, 37 of them were just one star, with visitors claiming to have been sent £100 fines after the paying machine voided their transactions.
“Got fined when I actually paid for the ticket. I appealed for the fine and also provided the ticket that i had paid and proof of the faulty machine but still had to pay 100 pounds. I hope that all the curses that I have put upon them come true. Horrible people. Thieves. Keep away from this filthy place or they will steal your money", claimed one user.
READ MORE: 'Do not ever park here': Swansea's worst rated car park and why people hate it so much
Another reviewer, Alison Thomason said: “Doesn't deserve one star. We did everything we could to do everything right and paid at the machine, but got a penalty letter for £100 with no explanation of where we are supposed to have gone wrong. When you appeal, they refuse the appeal. Many others have had this problem with Parkingeye.”
Kenneth Pascall added: “No clear signage about charges. You're timed from the second you drive in. Will never park here again which is a shame as its direct in the town centre. Since Parking Eye took over, all I have seen is negative comments and since I was fined by them for the same car park, I will not be recommending this car park.”
A Parkingeye spokesperson said: “The St Mark’s Car Park in Wrexham is monitored by ANPR camera systems and has prominent and highly-visible signage throughout providing clear guidance on how to use the car park responsibly. The car park features multiple payment machines and motorists are also given the option and details on how to pay by phone.
“Parkingeye operates a BPA (British Parking Association) audited appeals process, which motorists can use to appeal their Parking Charge Notice. If anyone has mitigating circumstances, we would encourage them to highlight this by appealing. All motorists are also entitled to a further appeal via POPLA, the independent body which reviews all cases.”
What do you think is the worst car park in Wales? Let us know in the comments below
Reviewers of the SA1 car park, by Swansea Marina, have claimed it's "unsafe", stating that their car had been damaged or stolen whilst parked there. Other visitors claimed they had been fined for not parking in a marked bay when the markings of the car park were faded and unclear. Find out why it has been rated the worst car park in Swansea here.
Katie Markley wrote that her car had been stolen from the car park over a year ago. She claimed: "DO NOT PARK HERE - UNSAFE CAR PARK NO CCTV!!!!! We parked here for a three night stay in Swansea while staying at the Waterfront Premier Inn. On the 2nd August 2021 after checking out of the hotel we came down to find that our car had been stolen!!!"
Antonella Ramsden added: "Not at all secure. No patrol or CCTV. We learned the hard way as on the first night of our stay in Swansea our catalytic converter was stolen! I would not park here again, especially overnight." While Stuart Sullivan claimed: "Do not ever park here, Excel appears to be doing absolutely nothing about the break-ins and thefts. Excel manages the three car parks in this area and there have been multiple break-ins and cars stolen on four different occasions in the last two months."
Other car parks across Wales received similar reviews, with many claiming that the NCP car park machines were charging a fortune, had tight spaces to drive through and many had difficulty parking. In a recent visit to an NCP in Cardiff, Caroline Davies left a one star review and said: "Not only was it costly, £14.00 for just over two hours, the parking bays were narrow. The stairwell smelled worse than a sewer, and to end it all somebody caused damage to my car. A really expensive visit to Cardiff."
Another reviewer of Cardiff's NCP car park on Westgate Street, Melanie Osbourne said: "Our car was broken into in this supposedly secure car park. Stairwells stinking of urine, with puddles of the stuff at the bottom. There are clearly people living in there. Tight, smelly and unsecure, they should be paying ME to park in there."
Excel Parking Services Ltd and NCP have been reached for comment.
Here are the worst rated car parks in your area:
Aberystwyth
Boulevard St Brieuc Car Park - 2.7 stars
Rheidol Retail Car Park - 3.7 stars
North Road Car Park - 4 stars
Barry
Court Road Car Park - 3.9 stars
Barry Island Pay and Display Car Park - 4 stars
Butrills Playing Field Car Park - 4.3 stars
Brecon
The Watton Car Park - 4.3 stars
Brycheiniog Car Park, Brecon - 4.4 stars
The Promenade - 4.6 stars
Caerphilly
P+R Llanbradach - 2 stars
Coed Parc-y-Van car park - 4 stars
Riverside Park Car Park - 4 stars
Cardiff
NCP Car Park Cardiff Westgate Street - 2.5 stars
NCP Car Park Cardiff Greyfriars - 2.8 stars
NCP Car Park Cardiff Adam Street - 2.9 stars
NCP Car Park Cardiff Rapports - 3 stars
Cardigan
Williams Terrace Car Park - 3.7 stars
Greenfield Square Car Park - 3.8 stars
Quay Street Car Park - 4 stars
Carmarthen
John Street Car Park - 3.8 stars
Car Park St Catherine's Walk - Carmarthen | APCOA - 3.8 stars
St Peter’s Street Car Park - 4.1 stars
Priory Street Car Park -4.1 stars
Haverfordwest
St Thomas Car Park - 3.2 stars
Rifleman Field - 3.4 stars
Haverfordwest Station - 3.5 stars
Llandudno
NCP - Llandudno Junction Station - 2.3 stars
Holy Trinity Pay & Display Car Park - 2.9 stars
The Parade Parking - 3.5 stars
Merthyr Tydfil
High Street Car Park - 2.5 stars
Tramroad Car Park - 3.3 stars
Gillar Street Car Park - 4 stars
Neath
Neath MSCP - 3.5 stars
Melyn Park | Parc Melin - 3.8 stars
Newport
NCP car park - 1 star
NCP Car Park Newport High Street - 3.3 stars
Maindee Car Park - 3.3stars
Newport Station Car Park (Long Stay) - 3.4 stars
Newtown
Bryn-y-pentre Wood car park - 3 stars
Caersws Station Car Park - 3.4 stars
Cider House car park - 4stars
Back Lane Car and Lorry Park - 4 stars
Pembroke
Parade Car Park- 3 stars
South Quay car park - 4 stars
Fort Road Car Park - 4.1 stars
Pontypridd
NCP Car Park Pontypridd Goods Yard - 2.3 stars
Goods yard car park - 2.8 stars
Warren Close Garages - 3 stars
Berw Road Car Park - 3 stars
Port Talbot
Port Talbot Multi-Storey Car Park - 3.7 stars
Port Talbot Station Car park - 3.8 stars
Swansea
SA1 Car Park - 2 stars
NCP Car Park Swansea City Gates - 3.2 stars
St David's MSCP - 3.4 stars
NCP Car Park Swansea Orchard Street - 3.4 stars
NCP Car Park Swansea Kingsway 3.7 stars
Wrexham
St Marks Rd Car Park - Britannia Parking - 1.6 stars
Wrexham General - Car Park - 3 stars
St Giles Car Park - 3.3 stars
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