New parking charges at a popular country park in Flintshire have caused local uproar. Residents complain they are paying the price for the surging popularity of Wepre Park, Connah’s Quay.
It’s now feared parking will spill out onto local streets, frustrating nearby residents. Critics have called for the park’s 9am-9pm parking charges to be relaxed to accommodate regular users such as local families, joggers and dog walkers.
Land hosting the park was bought from the Wepre Estate in 1943 by the former Connah’s Quay Urban District Council. Parking has been free ever since facilities were established at the 160-acre site.
This week, payment machines were installed along with signs detailing the fees: £1 for up to two hours; £2.50 for up to four hours; and £4 all day. Charging is due to start on Monday, July 27,
The move was agreed by Flintshire Council earlier this year. The local authority calculated it would bring in around £28,000 in extra revenue per year – and this would be used to fix wear and tear on the car park caused by increased visitor numbers. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
The council said a stakeholder group of regular users was “broadly supportive” of the measure. However, now that charging has become a reality, online reaction has been hostile with people labelling the move “shocking,” “disgusting” and “diabolical”.
One woman said: “Nearly 60 years I’ve lived on Deeside. Never been a charge for parking there till now.” Another local added: “It’s just so wrong in so many ways. Nowhere is free for people to visit now, not even a children’s park, woodlands and beaches… this is a disgrace!”
Public car park at Wepre Park(Image: Google)
Since the Covid pandemic, annual visitor numbers have surged to 200,000. Boardwalks pass through ancient woodlands and a key attraction is Ewloe Castle, a 13th-century fortress that can be climbed. There’s also a visitor centre and cafe, skate park, play facilities and a much photographed waterfall.
In January, Tom Woodall, Flintshire’s access and natural environment manager, said: “What we’ve seen since Covid is a massive increase in visitors and that is having an impact on the park in terms of our ability to maintain and keep orderly the public and their cars.
“There is an expectation form the public that at our honeypot sites like Wepre Park, Loggerheads and Alyn Waters, that car parks are chargeable.”
Residents accept the park has changed in recent years. Online, a Hawarden woman said: “Before Covid there would hardly be any cars in Wepre Park, now you’re lucky to find a parking space.”
A man added: “I hate the weekends there now. So busy it’s like a bin – bottles floating down the brook, litter including nappies and disposable BBQ gear.”
Ewloe Castle in Wepre Park(Image: Pjposullivan/Wiki)
Among those to have expressed concern to the council are organisers of a regular parkrun. Anglers who pay to use a fish pond have complained parking charges will now exceed their annual £40 fishing licences.
To reduce cost for regular users, Flintshire Council is introducing a £50 annual parking permit. And to counter street parking, the local authority has also amended local traffic management by installing double yellow lines. These apply to the B5125 and residential areas around all park entrances.
While Wepre Park’s parking charges are smaller than other honeypot sites in North Wales, especially on the coast, Connah’s Quay residents fear they will be the thin edge of the wedge and fees will rise rapidly in subsequent years.
Locals have also complained the move is symbolic of moves by local authorities to charge more for all services despite rapidly rising council tax bills.
Online, a woman said: “The endless charging to use public areas – such a joy! At least the air we breathe is free, for now at least….”
Another added: “The car park is a form of accessibility for many people to visit nature. Wepre has always been a saving grace for me, I have a chronic health condition and need to drive there.”
What the council said
Katie Wilby, Chief Officer for Streetscene and Transportation, said: “The introduction of car parking charges in Wepre Park was part of a wider review of the car parking policy that was agreed by the council’s Cabinet in January 2025 followed by statutory consultation, which concluded in November 2025. No formal objections were received as part of this statutory consultation.
“The charges are expected to come in on Monday, 27 July, 2026, and further communications will be published in the coming days.
“Ahead of the changes, traffic regulation orders were implemented in the neighbouring roads and streets to prevent potential displacement parking, and our teams will be monitoring for any issues outside the car park once the charges come in.”