PLANS to formally introduce ‘village-killing’ parking charges in Angle and three other villages were given the final go-ahead from Pembrokeshire Coast National Park members on Wednesday, despite a last-minute plea to make Angle a special case.

The May 8 National Park Authority meeting ratified plans to introduce parking charges at West Angle, Amroth, Nolton Haven and Penally, effective from 2020, with a 30-minute free period of grace.

This is a formalisation of a previous meeting, at the request of Pembrokeshire County Council's highways department

At its March meeting, the Authority declined expressions of interest from Angle, Amroth, and Nolton and Roch community councils in running the car parks, following previously-agreed park plans to introduce charges at the sites.

In Angle, many feel the charges will “kill” the village through a decline in tourism.

A 2018 public meeting held at Angle village hall heard parking charges were expected to generate some £20,000 a year for the park.

A petition objecting to the changes has collected more than 3,000 signatures.

At the May Park meeting, a special case plea was made for the residents of Angle by St Ishamaels County Councillor, and committee member, Cllr Reg Owens, removing the planned parking charges from the village.

He told members: "I'm really concerned about the proposal to implement car parking charges in Angle. Besides the comments made by the various people in Angle the feeling in angle is that we've treated them badly.

"I was at a meeting last week with a long-standing member of Angle Community Council; he said he's adamant that we should not be implementing parking charges at Angle.

"I really think we need to listen to the people of angle. Besides the chaos it's going to cause, that village needs an injection to the economy, not us proposing economic restrictions."

He was backed by Pembroke Dock councillor Tony Wilcox: "With regards to Angle, they feel really strongly; the village is struggling, the pubs are definitely struggling."

Cllr Owens was told his proposed amendment could not be put forward as a previously-agreed motion in favour of the charges could not be rescinded within six months, Cllr Owens responding: "If it's all done and dusted, why is it on the agenda today?"

Concerns about the effect the introduction of the charges would have on other areas had been raised by member Rachael Heath-Davies, who had earlier said concerns had been raised by residents about having to pay to park outside their own homes, and Penally car park users being placed in the position of having to pay to use the village chapel.

Ms Heath-Davies was warned that ‘bespoke solutions’ for different locations in the park would be difficult to justify.

She replied: “Surely what I’m asking for is a bit of flexibility; I don’t think it’s any good for our reputation.”

No information had been received about a claimed Angle Estate covenant on the parking area at Angle, where it is locally believed the land was gifted to the community, the meeting heard

The recommendation the changes be approved was backed by seven votes to four.

The matter may still be considered by Pembrokeshire County Council.