Comments about the size of spaces in Tenby's multi-storey car park were described as 'utter nonsense', by the Mayor, Clr. John Griffiths, this week. The town council recently wrote to Pembrokeshire County Council asking that they consider widening the spaces as part of any future development at the Upper Park Road facility. Clr. Mrs. Tish Rossiter had brought the matter to the attention of her colleagues at a previous meeting as she believed that vehicles over the past 30 years had gotten much bigger since the multi- storey was constructed and she had seen numerous motorists struggling to park their cars, with most locals afraid to park there for fear of their vehicle getting damaged. Writing in response to the council's request, however, the county council's parking services manager, Mr. Geoff Sutton, said this week: "In this car park, the concrete pillars intrude into some spaces, but the bays' overall dimensions comply with the guidance. "I do not accept that cars are bigger today than they were 30 years ago when this car park was built. Increasing the width of the bays would lead to a 33 per cent reduction in the number of spaces available; this reduction could not be justified," stated Mr. Sutton. Responding to Mr. Sutton's letter, Clr. Mrs. Rossiter remarked: "This was exactly the response I expected from county council, but I'm afraid that they are wrong, as a recent survey printed in the Daily Mail has shown that parking spaces have been adjudged to be too small for today's cars. "Myself and Clr. Griffiths have measured the spaces ourselves, so county council are wrong to dismiss what we have said, as it is a fact," she added. Mayor, Clr. Griffiths supported his colleague's stance on the matter. "It's utter nonsense what Mr. Sutton has written, he is being extremely economical with the truth," he stated. "Myself and Clr. Mrs. Rossiter would be more than happy to go with him to the multi-storey and measure the spaces."
