A CHARITY has lodged a formal appeal with the planning inspectorate against a council’s decision to deny planning permission for pay and display parking meters at a popular beauty spot.

In June, Anglesey Council’s planning committee turned down bids by the RSPB to install the parking meters at Elin’s Tower and the visitor’s centre car parks at South Stack near Holyhead.

Planning officers had recommended plans should be approved, but elected members turned them down amid concerns over the residual impact on the area due to motorists parking on narrow country lanes to avoid paying the charges.

The appeal, which was officially lodged last Wednesday, will require Anglesey Council to submit its own written response by September 5.

The RSPB says it has ‘listened’ to local feedback and that an earlier plan to apply a £20 annual concession rate to the residents of the Holyhead will be extended to cover all residents on Anglesey.

A new tiered pricing structure will also vary seasonally, including £2 an hour during the summer peak season, and £1.50 an hour over the winter months.

Daily rates will be £5 and £2.50 respectively.

Previously, the RSPB had intened to apply a flat rate of £5 during the peak season and £2.50 for off-peak.

“Although all three planning applications for the car park ticket machines and signage have been refused, our situation remains the same – we are currently running the site at a deficit,” said a spokesperson for the charity.

“We must therefore increase our income to become financially sustainable.

“Charging a car park fee is the most appropriate way to raise additional income, which is becoming the norm for many public bodies and charities who manage visitor attractions and public car parks.”

But local campaigner Jeff Evans, feels that the charity’s actions have caused bad feeling to fester locally.

The former Anglesey county councillor said: “The best thing for the RSPB to do now would be to withdraw the appeal before more people turn against them.

“I know of people who’ve cancelled direct debits and changed their wills as they’re so disgusted with how they’ve gone about this, and I agree with them.

“It’s about time they listened to the 7,000 people who signed a petition and the elected councillors who turned them down and stopped ignoring the overwhelming local view.

“There is already a problem with people parking on the narrow roads, it would only get 10 times worse if they get their way.

“I have no idea what the RSPB is playing at in all honesty.”

If Anglesey Council is found to have acted improperly in refusing the application, the authority could be liable to pay thousands of pounds in costs.

A spokesman for Anglesey Council confirmed they were “aware” of the appeal, but could not make further comment at this stage.