Feedback on a controversial shared parking permit scheme trial in Tenby has been given to local councillors.

The trial, which commenced on April 4, affected both Culver Park and South Cliff Street, introducing amendments to the current permit parking schemes for those streets, with additional shared use parking created on Culver Park, and the conversion of permit holders only to shared use on South Cliff Street.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s senior traffic engineer, Ben Blake, said that the rationale of the scheme was that Culver Park was oversubscribed, whereas South Cliff Street often saw the majority of resident bays empty during the day.

“Feedback from the exercise has been predominantly from South Cliff Street residents, with 12 replies objecting to the shared use concept,” said Mr. Blake in a letter before members of the town council on Tuesday night.

“The main reason for objection was that whilst the changes have proved successful in terms of filling an empty street during the day, residents who have previously enjoyed the ability of parking without competition during the day, are now finding that this is no longer guaranteed, making it difficult to park.

“It is claimed that this has resulted in residents having to pay to park on occasions during busy periods of the day when motorists take advantage of the two-hour limited waiting,” he added.

The town clerk, Andrew Davies, explained to members that the trial scheme saw Culver Park given an additional 25 per cent parking for shared holders, as well as the 50 per cent for permanent permit holders, but the South Cliff Street area wasn’t designated with any permanent parking and made all shared use.

“Mr. Blake is prepared to conduct a further trial at South Cliff Street,” he said.

Clr. Will Rossiter told his colleagues that he disagreed with the schemes.

“What gives the county council the right to sell spaces to people, then blatantly oversell those spaces! We have an example of this at Augustus Place, and it makes people angry,” he commented.

Clr. Mike Evans felt the Culver Park trial had been a success, but acknowledged that the South Cliff one hadn’t.

“Where there’s a winner, there is often a loser, but I’m sure with a little bit of tweaking, both can win,” he said.

“I’m a total supporter of the resident parking schemes across the town. Anything that makes it easier to park in Tenby for residents, I’m all for,” he said, adding that he would be discussing matters further at the next cabinet meeting of the county council later this month.