A call to raise parking charges at a national park’s car parks, which includes longer stays rising by a third and coach prices doubling, is recommended to be backed next week.
A proposal to increase parking fees at Pembrokeshire national park car parks is set to be approved next week(Image: Getty)
A proposal to increase parking fees at Pembrokeshire national park car parks, including longer stays rising by a third and coach prices doubling, is set to receive backing next week.
At the October 22 meeting of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park members are recommended to approve a series of alterations to parking charges at the authority’s 14 car parks taking effect from March 1 next year.
In 2023 it was decided that parking prices would undergo annual reviews with the pricing structure examined every three years with no modifications taking place in either 2024 or 2025. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter.
The alterations proposed include some welcome news for shorter visits but rises for extended periods in the 33% to 100% range.
The suggested charges are:
- up to 30 minutes, no change from the current nil charge;
- up to one hour remaining at £1.50;
- up to two hours rising from £3 to £4;
- up to four hours going from £4.50 to £6;
- all day increasing from £6 to £8;
- discontinuing weekly £30 rates, and;
- all-day coaches rising from £8 to £16.
A report for members states the number of charging sites has grown from 10 to 14 since 2021 which, alongside previous price rises, “has seen a near doubling of the authority’s parking revenue over the last five years” but inflationary pressures mean a £1 car parking ticket in 2020 would need to be charged at £1.27 in 2025 to have the same purchasing power in terms of cost recovery.
The report outlines statutory pressures related to the parking charges including “a substantial contribution to the coastal bus service annually” and financial support for keeping 10 public toilets open for a two-year period running up until April 2026 at a cost of £111,000 a year.
In developing an amended model officers have aimed to minimise these risks by creating a charging system which is still considered reasonable and focuses on increases linked to longer stays during which motorists are likely to use facilities such as toilets or walk the coastal path, the report states.
It also highlights that the authority’s future financial outlook “is challenging as the impact of cumulative reductions in core funding together with significant cost rises is felt” with the budget for 2025-26 forecasting a deficit of £566,000 for the year and deficits exceeding £1m predicted for the next three financial years.
The report continues: “The authority is therefore proposing a further increase of 33% in longer stay day car park charges (100% on coaches) in order to meet increased costs and its mid-term financial budget strategy of a balanced budget.”
If all factors remain constant the changes are expected to generate an additional £300,000 of income.
Members are advised to support the changes subject to a successful variation of the authority’s car park order.
The report also indicates that Pembrokeshire County Council is set to reassess its own parking fees in January 2026.
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