The future of a well used car park in the centre of Tenby, described as a ‘valuable asset’ by local councillors, could be in doubt after planning officers from the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority recommended refusal for plans to install the site as a permanent facility.

An application from Mr. Giles Birt, of Lock House, St. Julian Street, for a change of use of the land fronting South Parade, known as the Five Arches Car Park, is set to go before a meeting of PCNPA’s development management committee next Wednesday.

The plans for the site, which was the former Tenby Ford commercial garage, include work to enable use of the entire site (including 7 Picton Road) as a permanent car park, together with works comprising - associated pay machines, electric charging points, lighting, signage and planters.

The car park which has operated under a series of temporary planning permissions since 2011, was recently praised by local town councillors when they gave the thumbs up to the application, describing the facility as a ‘valuable asset’ to the town, when discussing the plans.

Tenby Chamber of Trade and Tourism have also supported the application, along with members of Tenby Civic Society’s planning sub-committee, who noted that the car park had ‘proved its worth’ for the town, having been an ‘effective and well used’ investment.

However, in a report set to go before the PCNPA planning committee, case officer Nicola Gandy has recommended refusal of the application, stating that as the site is located within the centre of the town, proposals which seek to increase traffic in this area are contrary both to national and local planning policies, which are to reduce the need to travel and not to intensify traffic flows in already congested areas.

She states in her report that - ‘adequate car parking is currently available in and around Tenby, so additional car parking will result in significant underuse of existing car parking spaces out of season. Tenby is also well-served by public transport which should be given priority.’

Pembrokeshire County Council’s highways and transportation department has also objected to the plans, stating that the application has not been submitted with any evidence to prove the necessity to provide additional car parking for the town.

“Whilst the views of the town council are noted, at no time has a need for an additional car park been demonstrated with evidence of a shortage of car parking in Tenby,” says Ms Gandy in her report.

“The continued use of this car park would result in inefficient use of otherwise developable land, and the additional traffic being drawn into Tenby creating traffic management issue would be contrary to the process of removing inappropriate parking and trips to and from Tenby.

“As such, the proposed scheme for the permanent use of the site for car parking is considered to be contrary to national and local planning policy and also the Regional Transport Plan and cannot be supported,” she added.

The meeting will be held at Llanion Park, Pembroke Dock, next Wednesday, at 10 am.