The owners of a ‘luxury holiday’ home in Tenby seeking to make an unofficial parking spot more accessible, are likely to see their application refused, and furthermore, instructed to block the space off to prevent further future ‘inappropriate’ parking, in order to protect the safety of pedestrians and other motorists in the locality.

The planning application (Reference: NP/25/0028/FUL) for the installation of drop kerbs to provide off-street parking in front of Ocean House, located on the busy junction of The Norton/The Croft, has been submitted to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.

However, a recommendation from Pembrokeshire County Council’s highway authority considers that the application be refused based upon insufficient visibility, and road safety issues.

Last year, the Local Authority moved to prevent ‘indiscriminate parking’ along The Croft, with the installation of ‘prohibition of waiting, loading and unloading at any time’ restrictions introduced from its junction with the Norton to its junction with the property known as St Stephens.

The Croft Tenby
Last year, the Local Authority moved to prevent ‘indiscriminate parking’ along The Croft, with the installation of ‘prohibition of waiting, loading and unloading at any time’ restrictions introduced from its junction with the Norton to its junction with the property known as St Stephens. (Pic supplied)

On this latest proposal, in putting forward his views, Stephen Benger from PCC’s highway authority stated in correspondence to PCNPA: “The proposal is to use a paved area within the red line boundary to provide off-street parking in front of Ocean House.

“This is unachievable at both proposed access points either due to the structure of the building obscuring approaching traffic from the north bound direction along The Norton or the curvature of the public highway along The Croft.

“Vehicles would not have sufficient visibility of oncoming traffic, or traffic turning at the junction in order to safely egress the site when parked.

“Vehicles would either need to reverse into oncoming traffic onto The Norton or egress in forward gear onto The Croft, both of which have substandard visibility.

“In addition, the proximity of the structure to the pedestrian footways restricts visibility of vulnerable users already on the public highway.

“Vehicles would need to encroach upon the public footway in order to egress and as such would block the public footway before the driver would be adequately able to see pedestrians and other users.

“The issue is that parking has not been formally agreed in this location and has simply been taking place, inappropriately, until now,” he added.

Tenby parking restrictions
Restrictions were introduced by PCC last year prohibiting waiting, loading and unloading at any time for vehicles. (Observer pic)

In order to ensure that future parking does not take place within this location, the highways authority has now recommended that a condition is attached to the refusal notice requiring the owner to erect a fenceline/wall/planters, no higher than 0.6m in height, around the vicinity of the site and reallocate that space to another usage.

Members of Tenby Civic Society have also recommended refusal, stating that cars manoeuvring in the spot could clearly be a danger to pedestrians.

“The public pavement is so narrow and parked cars will have to reverse out onto a blind corner for pedestrians,” they stated.

Inexplicably though, despite the obvious safety concerns highlighted, members of Tenby Town Council recommended approval for the application, which will be determined by PCNPA’s development management committee at a later date.