Councillors in Saundersfoot are asking residents to share their views on the village's parking challenges, with the aim to deliver effective solutions.

During peak holiday season, parking in coastal resorts such as Saundersfoot and its neighbouring town of Tenby can present a number of issues for both residents and visitors alike; as well as those heading to their work places for the day.

In Saundersfoot, county councillor for the south ward, Cllr Chris Williams had admitted in recent years that the village has a ‘major parking problem’ that needs addressing.

At times, during high holiday season, the main car parks can fill up very early in the morning, which on occasion can lead to many motorists just abandoning their vehicles throughout the village, causing many problems to householders trying to get out of their driveways.

Alterations to the main car parks too in recent times, has seen spaces lost, which has compounded the parking problem.

Now Cllr Williams and his fellow county councillor for the ward, Cllr Alec Cormack are undertaking the survey, so that they can provide detailed feedback to Pembrokeshire County Council on the problem caused by on street parking.

“We hope to receive replies from concerned residents and this will help us shape our conversations with the PCC highways teams,” said Cllr Williams.

“August brought particularly good weather, and it was wonderful to see the village busy, with streets and beaches filled with visitors and residents alike enjoying the vibrant atmosphere.

“With this increase in footfall, however, comes the ongoing challenge of parking in Saundersfoot.

“As I have highlighted previously, this is an issue we must continue to address collectively.

“On Bank Holiday Sunday, for example, the village sports field accommodated more cars than all of the other car parks combined. This demonstrates how vital the area is, not only for our village sporting teams but also in supporting the wider community at peak times.

“While this parking option is weather-dependent, it remains an important asset for managing exceptionally busy periods when car parks are at capacity,“ continued Cllr Williams.

“The Plaza area has also been transformed with new independent shops, creating a more attractive and busy hub for visitors and locals alike.

“While this is positive for our economy and community spirit, the growth in visitors has unfortunately led to increased pressures on residential streets.

“We must not forget that our three main car parks in the village have had their spaces reduced over the years, due to resurfacing or from new layouts to improve visibility and safety.”

Inconsiderate parking caused concern for some residents in Saundersfoot once again this summer.

Cllr Chris Williams recently highlited the matter, by revealing that he’d received numerous reports of issues from local residents in the village - all of which have raised concerns about vehicles parking irresponsibly, particularly at weekends.

Residents stated that access to their homes has sometimes been blocked, with some unable to exit their driveways due to cars parked directly opposite.

“Residents have rightly raised concerns about cars partially blocking driveways and entrances, making it difficult to access their own properties,” remarked Cllr Williams.

“To address these issues, I have escalated concerns to Pembrokeshire County Council and recently attended a productive meeting with the Public Realm Manager, the Senior Highways Traffic and Road Safety Engineer, and Councillor Cormack, who has also been engaging with residents.

“We discussed the challenges in detail, including the rise in village workers parking on residential streets, and will continue to work closely with residents to explore practical solutions.

“I encourage anyone experiencing problems to get in touch so we can ensure your views are included as discussions progress.”

Another point of frustration during the summer season, Cllr Williams stated, was non electric cars parking in the EV charging bays at the Regency Hall car park.

Cllr Williams said that he has spoken with the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority who own this car park and they have made it quite clear that the use of EV spaces is restricted to electric vehicles only.

“The main criticism we get is from combustion vehicle drivers complaining that the EV spaces are empty most of the time and why can’t they use them when the remainder of the car park is full,” explained Cllr Williams.

“EV vehicles in the EV spaces need to pay for their parking session on the same rates and terms as any other vehicle within the car park with the single caveat that the maximum waiting time for an EV vehicle in an EV space is limited to 4 hours.

“This reflects the fact that these spaces are provided for recharging purposes, not for long stay parking.

“I think the issue raised is more reliant upon the development of good etiquette within the EV user community, not to occupy any EV space any longer than reasonably necessary to charge your vehicle.”

With regards to the Glen, Cllr Williams stated that he shared residents’ frustrations about the ongoing problem of cockle pickers and other individuals who park inconsiderately in that locality, and leave rubbish behind.

During a recent site visit by officers, a Jewson lorry was unable to navigate the bottom corner due to vehicles parked on double yellow lines.

“This is a stark reminder of the risks should an emergency vehicle need access. I have raised this urgently, and the Senior Traffic Officer has committed to meeting me on site in September to review potential solutions,” continued Cllr Williams.

“One proposal I have put forward is the installation of bollards on the carriageway, after the bend, on the right-hand side, which would prevent parking on this blind corner and ensure access at all times.

“Once this site visit has taken place, I hope to invite residents to a meeting where we can discuss the available options together.”

Cllr Williams has in the past also highlighted the need for disabled bays for the centre of the village to be retained; and issues surrounding dropped kerbs being blocked.

He subsequently conducted onsite meetings with the access group at Pembrokeshire County Council and the Street Care team to address these matters.

“Please be assured that your concerns are being taken seriously. Councillor Cormack and I will continue to engage with affected residents, and I welcome further feedback from anyone who wishes to share their experiences so that we can work collectively toward improvements,” added Cllr Williams

“We have listed the six streets we get the most reports about, but you can report any street in the Saundersfoot area.”

A spokesperson for Saundersfoot Community Council shared: “We know that on-street parking can be a challenge in and around Saundersfoot and we’d like to hear your experiences and ideas.

“This questionnaire is your chance to share any issues, suggestions, or concerns you may have.

“All responses will be carefully collated and presented to the Pembrokeshire County Council highways team, who are responsible for parking and traffic matters.

“While we can’t promise immediate changes, your feedback will help highlight the key issues and ensure your voice is heard. Thank you for taking the time to share your views — your input is really valuable.”

The survey can be filled out at the following link: https://forms.gle/5kYfMUEjUG1S1oHg8