The authority has proposed introducing a residents-only parking scheme at two car parks in Llanfaes. Under the council’s proposals residents would have to pay £65 a year for permits to park at the Orchard Street and Duckham’s Yard car parks.
Brecon town councillor Martin Weale claimed the authority has no right to charge people to use the Duckham’s Yard car park and said some residents had been gifted their parking spaces by the former Brecon Borough Council.
Cllr Weale told Brecon Town Council’s March meeting: "Residents have been given the plots to park their cars.
"I suspect as best this proposal is flawed at worst it may be conspiracy to defraud."
The councillor, who represents the Llanfaes St David’s ward, said charges at the two car parks had previously been proposed in 2009 but dropped. Cllr Weale was also a county councillor at the time.
He said: "Someone seems quite determined to punish the residents in Llanfaes. These are residential car parks, they are not used to manage or regulate traffic. This is simply to penalise people and raise money."
Councillor Mark Morgan said he was a borough councillor at the time the residents had been granted the parking spaces. He said that council had written to the residents allocating them the spaces.
He said to Cllr Weale: "I was on the borough council at the time, you are correct."
Cllr Morgan said the area was previously owned by Central Garage and leased by a supplier who sold Duckham’s Oil but after the owner passed away had been adopted by the council.
Mayor David Meredith, who also represents the St David’s ward on Powys County Council, said the authority is prepared to issue more tickets than there are parking spaces. He said there are around 200 homes in the area.
"There was a public meeting and the residents are totally opposed, as I have been since it was announced by the council’s cabinet last year.
"It will have a huge impact as the council are prepared to issue more permits than there are parking spaces.
"They say it will be on a first come first served basis and there are around 200 houses in that area. If they all come to County Hall at the same time I don’t know how they will determine who was first."
The councillor said he was concerned at the loss of car parking spaces on nearby bed and breakfast accommodation as well as the fish and chip shop and ice cream parlour.
The town council agreed it would object to the unitary authority’s proposals.
Powys council is also proposing to introduce residents’ parking at Tremont Road in Llandrindod and Market Street Knighton.
As well as proposing the residents-parking schemes the council has also consulted on introducing parking charges for the Ridgebourne and Town Hall car parks in Llandrindod; the Station Yard car park Talgarth; Station Road, Sennybridge and bypass car park in Presteigne.
Charges for cars would run from 70p for a hour’s parking to £3.20 for more than four hours for cars and motorbikes. Overnight parking for cars and motorbikes will remain free.
A spokesman for the county council said all representations made would be considered in response to the consultation.