Remember the days when some kind soul would come along and pass on their car parking ticket to you, as you pulled up, if they were leaving, and had a couple of hours left paid up, before the days of having to type your vehicle registration into the machine.

Well those kind souls were replaced by another kind of ***sole (fill in the blanks) - the parking firms that want to squeeze every penny out of motorists, or better still, catch you out with a hefty £100 fine, which increases the longer it takes you to pay it.

The backlash that has ben aimed at those running Saundersfoot Harbour, and the decision to introduce a new ANPR camera system at the car park, operating 24 hours a day, with enforcement undertaken and managed by Britannia Parking, has seen both locals and visitors voice disgruntlement that they can no longer enjoy simply parking up of an evening for a few minutes to look at the view whilst eating their fish and chips.

We all know that you can’t expect to park anywhere for free these days, especially in prime seafront spots - but when boat users who already pay high fees for moorings are now expected to stump up more to park up every time they need to tend to their vessel, you know that the board of commissioners running the harbour, have offered absolutely no consultation with those that have used the facility the most for years and years.

Back in 2011, after the passing of the New Harbour Order, a new team of Commissioners were elected and said to have a ‘particular skill set and proven business acumen’.

It has been highlighted by many this week, that the former purpose of the harbour originally gifted by Lord Merthyr to the seaside village, was for the ‘use and enjoyment’ of local residents - but as one local summed it up ‘there will be a tax for breathing in the air down there before long!’.

Another put it: ‘Commercial money making venture. My dad who served his time on the harbour and had a business there would turn in his grave. He loved to spend a short time early morning looking at the sea. I hate what they're doing to my village.’

Even though investment is badly needed at Tenby Harbour, maybe Saundersfoot serves as the best example of ‘if it ain’t broke - don’t fix it’.