COMMUTERS in Caerphilly borough will start having to pay to use train station car parks, prompting concerns it could cause traffic problems and deter people from using them.

Caerphilly council will introduce a £1.50 daily charge for 12 stations later this year, including Newbridge, Crosskeys and Risca and Pontymister.

A date is yet to be set, but is expected in late autumn or winter when the council has fitted pay and display machines.

This move comes as the council faces budget pressures - the car parks cost more than £86,000 a year to maintain, clean and monitor with CCTV, and it is looking to recoup some of the cost from commuters.

Commuters at Newbridge station have expressed their concerns.

Joanna Chivers, 34, from Pentwynmawr, said: "It's going to cause more congestion in town because people will park there. £1.50 is not a massive amount but it's enough to put people off and they will probably go elsewhere."

Sharon Doman, 40, from Treowen, added: "For one-offs it's not too bad, but for people coming Monday to Friday it will add up and they will be tempted to park in town which will make parking in town even worse."

Tina Hoare, 64, from Ty Newydd Terrace, Newbridge, said: "That's OK but I suppose it would be off-putting to some people and it adds up on top of the train ticket."

Teresa Carnell, 51, from Abercarn said: "The train is a service we've asked for, I don't know why they're trying to capitalise further, you're charged enough for the trains.

Sam Leader, 21, from Treowen, added: " Charging people will put them off and they'll park in the centre or go to Llanhilleth. I think it's asking a bit much on top of your train fare."

EDITORIAL COMMENT: Parking fee is backward step

WE are in serious danger of starting every comment about local authority proposals over the next couple of years with the words 'We understand why so-and-so council has to watch its pennies during this period of austerity etc etc...'

It is true that councils have to make savings and to raise money where possible.

But we fear Caerphilly's latest proposal to raise cash - to introduce a £1.50 parking charge at its stations on the valleys rail line - will be counter productive.

For starters, lots of daily commuters will simply park in the streets near the station rather than cough up £1.50 a day, which adds up to £30 a month or £360 a year.

Second the whole point of beefing up public transport is that it cuts congestion and pollution on the roads. To punish those drivers who support public transport rather than drive to work is unfair.

There are so many giveaways in a borough like Caerphilly that this policy smacks of the ideology that you should be taxed more if you can afford a car and have a job.

We believe that these charges will deter the public from joining in the sustainability agenda and will simply reduce the quality of life for locals who will either see and influx of extra parking or an influx of anti-parking restrictions near their homes.