Support our Nation today - please donate here
News

Trial scheme to allow motorhome users to stay overnight at car parks approved

12 Feb 2024 3 minute read
The car park at Tenby’s North Beach will be part of the trial. Photo by Chrstopher is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Bruce Sinclair, Local democracy reporter

A trial scheme to allow motorhome and campervan users to park and sleep overnight at selected car parks in one of Wales’ most popular tourist destinations, has been given the go-ahead.

Members of Pembrokeshire Council’s Cabinet backed a proposal for a trial run scheme to allow overnight parking and sleeping at four car parks, at their meeting today (12 February).

The four car parks are: North Beach, Tenby; Goodwick Moor, Goodwick; Townsmoor, Narberth; and Western Way, Pembroke Dock.

The ‘Pembs Stop’ trial areas, available for up to two nights, will operate year-round at £10 a night for a trial 18-month period, expected to start in July, with members hearing the motorhome trade had already said the proposal was “a progressive approach”.

A report for members presented by Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services Cllr Rhys Sinnett stressed the scheme was not intended to create ‘campsites,’ with a list a criteria including no LPG bottles or furniture to be stored outside, and no camping waste or recycling points being provided.

Demand

The report said: “Over the last few years there has been significant demand in the motorhome industry, resulting in increased numbers of motorhomes visiting Pembrokeshire. The parking services team are receiving requests for overnight stopovers in our car parks: parking is allowed; however, sleeping overnight is currently prohibited.

“The issues of motor home parking became particularly acute during the immediate period of Covid (summer 20220 and 2021). Some locations were highlighted – Manorbier and Newgale – where specific on street parking restrictions were introduced to prevent overnight on-street parking restrictions for example.

“There is extensive campsite provision to accommodate motorhomes within the county. However, there is still some feedback, particularly from motorhome user groups, that the provision for motorhomes is not as accessible as some desire.”

Legal review

Introducing an ‘evening stopover tariff’ specifically for motorhomes will need a legal review, as there is a need to amend the current parking order because it prohibits sleeping.

“The proposal is not to allow sleeping overnight in all our car parks; it will only be in the selected locations: other locations we will still enforce,” the report stresses.

Members backed Cllr Sinnett’s proposal to introduce the ‘Pembs Stop’ trial for motorhomes and to vary the conditions of the Pembrokeshire County Council (Off Street Parking Places Order 2011) to allow this, to run from July 1, subject to legal process.

A report on the trial scheme will be heard by Cabinet in 12 months’ time.


Support our Nation today

For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
4 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
7 months ago

‘Tenby’, I had a great week in one of those flats overlooking the harbour years ago… ‘Tenby’ and ‘Fishguard’ two of my favorite places… Why is it so hard to get our heads around putting them up for a tenner a night, plus a few quid to charge, water and cleanly empty their waste. A start toward a tourist tax but not a tax because you get something for it. In Porthmadog there is a whole open air launderette next to a garage… Any way make it a win-win situation… Now is the time for the council to get a… Read more »

Last edited 7 months ago by Mab Meirion
karl
karl
7 months ago

s I take it they are building new toilets etc. Because people have to go.

TLccc
TLccc
7 months ago
Reply to  karl

Why? Motorhomes are self contained. Many aires in France, Sostas in Italy etc are free but have no facilities. This council is proposing £10 and giving nothing extra. Well done them. What a good way to get extra income.

G Horton-Jones.
G Horton-Jones.
7 months ago

This is opening Pandora’s box
£10 per night is way below what local sites are charging as a basic pitch fee unless other income is obtained by offering food drinks and entertainment packages
It is illegal to charge for supplying electricity at above current market prices
It is well known that outfits can turn up after 2200 hrs and leave around 0600 hrs in the morning
Enforcement would require 24 hour cover and no one is saying how many parking spaces will be provided their size accessibility and quantity nor terms of duration of stay

Our Supporters

All information provided to Nation.Cymru will be handled sensitively and within the boundaries of the Data Protection Act 2018.