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Scheme for overnight motorhome and campervan stays in tourist hotspots’ car parks scrapped

09 Sep 2024 3 minute read
Campervan. Image: Allen Watkin licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Bruce Sinclair, local democracy reporter

A scheme for overnight motorhome and campervan stays at council car parks in a popular holiday location has been scrapped.

Members of Pembrokeshire Council’s Cabinet had backed proposals in February for the trial of a scheme dubbed ‘Pembs Stop’ at four car parks: North Beach, Tenby; Goodwick Moor, Goodwick; Townsmoor, Narberth; and Western Way, Pembroke Dock.

The plan was for an 18 month trial where drivers could park up for up to two nights at a time, paying just £10 a night.

The planned trial received national media coverage, and was welcomed by the motorhome and campervan community.

But local tourism businesses claimed the plans would harm them. Concerns about the trial were also raised by the official tourism industry group for Pembrokeshire, Visit Pembrokeshire.

Subsequently a special council scrutiny committee meeting was held in April where the scheme was overwhelmingly rejected. A Cabinet, meeting today (9 September) backed the recommendation not to  proceed with the scheme.

Ferry port 

It will instead trial an overnight stopover facility for motorhomes at Goodwick Moor car park, linked to the Fishguard ferry port, an idea which had gained some potential support at the April meeting.

That stopover facility for one night at a time rather than a previous report recommendation of two nights, will be at £10 a night, 7pm-9am, the trial running for an 18-month period.

Presenting the report to Cabinet, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services Cllr Rhys Sinnett said the scheme would initially be run at the Goodwick car park from March 1 of next year.

He also told members the trial scheme could be extended to include Pembroke Dock’s Western Way car park later next year.

‘Regularise’ 

Moving the recommendation, he said the proposed trial would “balance the needs of local businesses against that of camper van users,” adding that campervans were already using the car park at Goodwick, the proposal would allow the council the opportunity “to regularise and influence” the existing situation and would “direct people from parking inappropriately”.

Members were told some 1,000 campervans were estimated to use the facility annually, and the council would seek to “uncover lessons learned” from a similar trial in Snowdonia.

Concerns were raised by Cabinet Member for Planning & Regulatory Services Cllr Jacob Williams, who felt the rate could actually be higher, and feared the trial could create a “free-for-all when any number of vans could park there”.

He was told the Goodwick proposal was about “managing existing demand,” but “putting it on the map” could lead to extra usage.

The trial proposal was unanimously supported by Cabinet.

Council leader Cllr Jon Harvey said: “I think motorhomes are an important part of the tourism industry, to put this trial next to a ferry port seems to make a lot of sense to me.,” adding the reduction to one night was “probably a sensible way forward.”


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J Jones
J Jones
13 days ago

Sounds like ‘local tourism businesses’ don’t want competition. A bit like restaurants demanding supermarkets are closed to force people to eat their food.

So a large form of tourism now does Pembrokeshire in a non stop day trip and trundles on to stay somewhere they are valued.

Some very nimby little ingerlunders down west.

Welsh Patriot
Welsh Patriot
13 days ago

It seems West Wales doesn’t want anyone other than locals enjoying the country side down there? 300% Council Tax, ban on over night motor home, Tourist Tax?
What next? tolls on the bridges, oh hang on…..

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
13 days ago

Was going say write to the minister for tourism then I found another retirement gravy-train rider…the gang…

hdavies15
hdavies15
13 days ago
Reply to  Mab Meirion

Does one exist ? Or is it a ghost?

John Ellis
John Ellis
13 days ago

This doesn’t really strike me as a sensible decision, in that there’s a small but significant cohort of folk who really like to holiday within Great Britain – indeed, in some cases beyond – in their own campervans. OK, it’s undoubtedly not a huge cohort, but given that the UK has a population of around 65 million, a ‘small’ cohort is still likely to add up to a significant number. We have one of them in our extended family. Even allowing for the fact that some will stock up at home with provender before they set off, it’s a fair… Read more »

Vincent Van Go
Vincent Van Go
12 days ago
Reply to  John Ellis

There’s also huge untapped potential for campervan hire which is a big thing in NZ. This taps into the van life trend on social media which has global appeal but it needs the right infrastructure in place.

John Ellis
John Ellis
12 days ago
Reply to  Vincent Van Go

Good point!

lufcwls
lufcwls
13 days ago

Why can’t they go to a campsite instead? Where there are bathroom facilities available too and staff at hand. They pay a bit more, more people are employed, they have more facilities, more tax is paid. What am I missing here?

Vincent Van Go
Vincent Van Go
12 days ago
Reply to  lufcwls

It’s a good question and the answer might help campsites tailor their facilities accordingly. Perhaps they could organise with other sites to build a network across Wales that ticks all the right vanlife boxes.

Last edited 12 days ago by Vincent Van Go
J Jones
J Jones
12 days ago
Reply to  lufcwls

Some campsites need booking well in advance, minimum 2 or 3 night stay and I heard about one that wanted check in by 3pm – so staff can then go home early! Paying £30 to $40 for an overnight car park compared to full day freedom then a scenic wild camp, no brainer for a campervan with facilities on board.

Vincent Van Go
Vincent Van Go
12 days ago
Reply to  J Jones

What if you needed a permit to sleep overnight in a van anywhere in Wales, and that permit included a spot at participating campsites which supported online check-in for arrivals upto 9pm?

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