Tenby's police chief has hit back at criticism over lack of enforcement of the town's controversial residential parking scheme. As reported in last week's Observer, members of Tenby Town Council are calling for the scheme to be scrapped as they feel it has proved a failure and achieved very little in reducing parking problems, and even less so in enhancing traffic management throughout the town. They have written to Pembrokeshire County Council underlining the reasons why they want the scheme abolished, which includes concerns over disputes and complaints arising from the alleged misuse of the parking bays which was occupying a disproportionate amount of time for the police and traffic wardens. However, our postbag this week has been brimming with letters from readers about the subject (see page 4). In one, Mrs. Angela Nicholls, of Clareston Road, claimed the scheme was only 'unworkable' because there was 'no-one in charge to monitor the situation'. "Either the town council, the police or Pembrokeshire County Council, or a combination of all three should get their act together and put into practice a way of stopping people abusing the rights of those who have paid for a permit," said Mrs. Nicholls, who has sent copies of her letter to the town council, police and the local authority. "In some places breaking of this law is seen as anti-social behaviour and at the moment many people are actively breaking a law every single day because they know nothing is being done about it," she continued. "I would wholeheartedly dispute that the concept of residents parking is unsuccessful and if it is withdrawn, then I and many others would change their mind about the pedestrianisation of Tenby in the summer months, because it would have a considerable knock-on effect on many resident parking streets just outside the town walls." However, Inspector Les Clark, of the town's police station, has revealed that since January 1, police officers and the traffic warden have issued some 287 non- endorsable fixed penalty notices, mainly for illegal parking in the section area. "The revenue raised by these fines totals £8,610, none of which comes back to the police," he said. "It all goes to central government." "The problem of anti-social parking in Tenby is not new, but we do try our level best to address it as and when officers become available from other more urgent tasks," he continued. "My absolute priorities are to reduce violent crime, tackle burglaries and try to reduce anti-social behaviour and the scourge of drugs. Parking in residents only bays comes after these." On a positive note, however, as from this week, the new seasonal traffic warden has commenced duty for the summer period, with another starting soon. "She has found out already how unpopular parking enforcement is with Tenby residents with, on one occasion, a fixed penalty notice being screwed up and discarded by a driver before her very eyes," Insp. Clark said. "Traffic wardens, like most of the rest of society, work a five-day week and are entitled to some weekends off," he added. "It is true that my police division made a bid to the Home Office for funding for a number of Community Police Support Officers and we were successful in being able to employ a number of individuals," he added. "It was decided, however, that these officers should be directed to areas of greater need than Tenby and consequently they are based in other parts of Pembrokeshire."
