A review of car parking charges in Tenby was one of the hot topics discussed when local councillors held their first meeting of 2011.

A letter from local resident Alistair Mackay, brought before members of the town council on Tuesday night, sparked the debate, with a number of proposals listed that councillors were keen to take on board and put to Pembrokeshire County Council.

One suggestion was for 24-hour parking tickets to be introduced in all Tenby car parks and not just the multi-storey, which councillors agreed would be of great benefit to someone who comes to Tenby in the afternoon and stays overnight, meaning that they wouldn't have to get back to their vehicle to purchase a ticket by 9 am the next morning.

Another idea discussed was for a weekly transferable ticket that could be issued in one Tenby car park and be valid for use in all the town's car parks.

"February 1 is coming and with the county council taking over the parking enforcement, a lot of locals don't have off-street parking, so these proposals would make things a lot easier for people who are living in the town," said Clr. Mike Evans.

"We also need to see the multi-storey facility improved. How much does that make for the county council; it's a big asset, yet it still doesn't have a lift. The pro rata parking costs for the multi-storey were increased 500 per cent not so long ago, that was the final nail in the coffin for a lot of locals who rely on the facility to park there day in day out. Little things like that have made it more difficult to live and work in the town, where before it was made easier, so we need to take these ideas that can benefit the town forward to the county council.

"We also need an automated system for things like the park and ride scheme in the summer during pedestrianisation. We need to be fighting week in week out to get these things introduced," added Clr. Evans.

The Mayor agreed that it was time for the county council to improve the multi-storey car park.

"There's been evidence for years that the county council have been making a big profit on the multi-storey, but there is still nothing going back into it at all. We need to ask where are the improvements?" said Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Julie Evans.

Clr. Trevor Hallett also concurred that signage in the town needed to be upgraded, especially now that the pedestrianisation order was a permanent fixture in the town.

"We need better signage to give greater information on car parks to the town's people and tourists," he said.

Councillors agreed to draw up a list of measures they would like to see as part of a review into car parking charges to send to the county council.