Motorists who have reserved spaces in Tenby's multi-storey car park are up in arms over a hike in charges.

Drivers are facing an increase of more than two and a half times their current fee as Pembrokeshire County Council implements new year-round prices.

Although this is the first time the charges have been reviewed since 1994, we have been contacted by several drivers this week angry about the rises.

Drivers had been paying £97 for a bay between April 1 and September 30, but are now being asked to pay £350 for the whole year.

One permit holder, who asked not to be named, told us that even if they used the multi-storey car park regularly during the summer, the total of the daily costs would not come anywhere near the cost of an annual ticket.

"I've already lost one rear windscreen wiper through vandalism when parked in my reserved bay and the usual Grand Prix was taking place there again on Saturday. It is hardly the safest and most welcoming place."

Also shocked and reeling about the new charges are Debbie Neale, Melanie Fairman and Paul Woodcock, of The Blue Ball Restaurant, Upper Frog Street, Tenby.

"We paid £194 for two spaces for six months," they told us. "We have now been informed it will increase to £700 for two spaces for the whole year. That's £350 each, an increase of some 260 per cent."

They continued: "We don't have an option for a six-month permit - just annually. We aren't open as often outside the April - September period, so would quite happily pay per day when we are parked during the quieter months.

"Our council in their wisdom are hardly doing much to either promote and support small businesses, or to encourage tourists or locals alike to visit Tenby, whether within the summer season, or more importantly during the quieter winter months.

"Perhaps they could impose a congestion charge in Tenby during the summer, and then an entrance fee onto the beach." 

The trio added: "If we increased our prices at 260 per cent, our poor customers could expect to pay £77.50 for a fillet steak, £30.50 each for a one-course Sunday lunch, or £17 for a pudding! Of course we aren't going to do this, but if we did, I wonder where our customers would go? Unfortunately, we don't have that option with our parking!

"This, as well as the proposed £5,000 increase in our business rates, is something else we hardly dare contemplate."

We also received a letter from Debbie Jenkins, of Milford Haven, who said she was in a 'state of utter disbelief' about the increase.

"As a local shop trader in Tenby High Street, working for an established charity, I use the multi-storey car park five days per week for approximately 48 weeks of the year, winter and summer," Debbie wrote.

"I think that it is totally unreasonable to expect visitors and local customers working in the area to have to cough-up this extra payment for a guaranteed space."

She continued: "Many people who work in Tenby are on the minimum wage and, as in my shop, we rely heavily on volunteers who also travel into town."

And she asked: "Should there not be a concession for local people, particularly in the winter months when parking is not at a premium."

Adding: "We need to encourage people to come to Tenby, not discourage."

Council response

When we contacted Pembrokeshire County Council about the matter, we were told: "Car park fees in Tenby have not been reviewed since 1994. The cost of a reserved bay (for the period April 1 to September 30) was set at that time at £97.

"As the daily tariff in this car park was £1.60, the daily rate in a reserved bay equated to 52p. This is for a guaranteed space in the car park. The average income for a space in the car cark during the same period is £207.

"In 2005, car park charging policy set new guidance on concessions to apply in car parks and related the cost of weekly, season and reserved tickets to the daily rate.

"A weekly ticket is available (seven days for price of six) giving a 15 per cent discount; a season ticket is available (for 26 weeks) with a further 40 per cent reduction and a reserved ticket is available with a 20 per cent reduction."

The spokeswoman continued: "The recent review of car park charges, implemented from January 1, has increased the daily rate to £1.80. In addition, winter charges will apply from October 1, 2010, and the daily rate will then be £1.

"The effect of these increases on concessions is that the weekly rate will be £10.80 (summer) and £6 (winter); season ticket £170 and £94; reserved ticket £350.

"The price of a guaranteed space in the car park therefore works out at 95p per day.

"We currently set aside 95 spaces for reserved tickets and have a waiting list of 15 people.

"In the context of the above, it is not therefore considered that the charge of less than a £1 a day (for a guaranteed space) is in any way 'outrageous.'"

The spokeswoman added: "The council's parking services manager recently wrote to all permit holders in the county to advise them of the revised charges coming into effect when permits are renewed in April.

"If customers do not wish to renew their reserved bay, we respect that decision and will make the space available to other members of the public on the waiting list."