PLANS to introduce charges in four free car parks have been backed by members of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.

Following a review of its 37 parking sites, a report was produced by the Business and Performance Manager, Alan Hare, which put forward seven recommendations for approval.

They included increasing coach charges to £8 per day. Members heard that the fee had remained at £3 since 1989 and that the proposed increased would bring it more in line with Pembrokeshire County Council charges.

Other recommendations were to introduce free 30 minute ‘pop and shop’ tickets in some car parks, and charging at £1 per hour up to a maximum of £5 per day at all car parks.

Mr Hare said: “We’re trying to align with the county council’s parking systems to reduce confusion among customers.

“People go into our car parks and are charged for one, two, three and five hours, whereas the county council charge two and four hours and all day, and the rates are all different.”

At a meeting on Wednesday, November 18, members were also asked to agree ‘in principle’ three other proposals which would be subject to a consultation.

They included introducing charging at Amroth, Penally, West Angle and Nolton Haven.

Mr Hare said: “Amroth and West Angle are relatively large and fairly busy car parks. They haven’t been charging car parks in the past for a variety of reasons. They are long way away and it takes a lot of time to get out there and collect the money, but that can be overcome.

“Nolton Haven was initially considered too small, but looking at it now it does seem quite busy. It’s also easy to get to.”

Mr Hare added: “We have to go through a consultation process first though, so it’s not something that will happen next year or even in 2017.”

Cllr Reg Owens said he was against all car park charges and would not be backing the proposals.

“We are supposed to be encouraging people to come to our town centres,” he said and highlighted Cwmbran as an example of a “booming town” which did not have any parking charges.

In summary members backed the following recommendations:

• Increase coach charges to £8 per day

• Introduce free 30 minute ‘pop and shop’ tickets in some car parks

• Introduce a season ticket valid in a single specified car park at £25

• Remove transferability from PCNPA tickets

• Install pay and display machines at Newport and Poppit Sands

• Negotiate with PCC to include PCNPA car parks in the parking passport and similar schemes

They also agreed in principle to the following proposals:

• Install pay and display machines at Solva

• Introduce charging at Amroth, Penally, West Angle and Nolton Haven

• Negotiate with PCC to prepare a revised off-street parking order in light of the above and to develop a service level agreement to manage the car parks

After some confusion members agreed for officers to revisit the proposal to introduce charging at £1 per hour up to a maximum of £5 per day at all car parks after some thought the £5 fee was too much.

Cllr Mike Evans said: “I think £5 a day is an astronomical amount for a day’s parking. If you have lunch in St Davids, you pay £5, whereas if you have lunch in Porthgain you pay no pound. It’s very disadvantageous to businesses.”

South Pembrokeshire Assembly Member Angela Burns, said: "Many organisations see car parking charges as a relatively simple way to help bolster finances and defray maintenance costs however I am concerned over the proliferation of car parking charges throughout my constituency.

"If we are not careful it will become a tax on tourism and it can also disenfranchise local people who feel they have to pay to access their local amenities.”