A proposed trial allowing overnight parking for motorhomes and campervans in several Pembrokeshire car parks is likely to be scrapped, according to new recommendations.
Earlier this year, Pembrokeshire County Council’s cabinet approved the ‘Pembs Stop’ pilot program, which aimed to offer short-term parking for up to two nights at four car parks: North Beach in Tenby, Goodwick Moor in Goodwick, Townsmoor in Narberth, and Western Way in Pembroke Dock.
The trial was set to run for 18 months, with overnight parking available year-round at a cost of £10 per night.
Originally scheduled to launch in July, the initiative was intended to provide an alternative for motorhome users, but with restrictions such as no external LPG bottles or furniture, and no waste disposal or recycling facilities to ensure the areas wouldn’t become informal campsites.
However, opposition from local tourism businesses and concerns raised by Visit Pembrokeshire, the county’s tourism body, led to further scrutiny of the scheme. In April, a special council committee overwhelmingly rejected the plan, recommending that the cabinet not move forward with it.
Now, as Pembrokeshire’s cabinet prepares for its September 9 meeting, it’s expected that the ‘Pembs Stop’ proposal will be shelved.
Instead, the council is being advised to trial a more limited overnight parking option at Goodwick Moor car park, which is closely linked to the nearby ferry port.
This alternative proposal, which garnered some support at the April meeting, would allow motorhome stopovers from 7pm to 9am, with the same £10 fee per night.
A council report accompanying the new recommendation states: “Following the scrutiny committee’s decision and further review, it is proposed that the ‘Pembs Stop’ scheme should not proceed.
“However, there is recognition of specific management challenges at certain locations.”
The amended plan includes a review of the Goodwick Moor facility after 18 months to assess its usage and impact.
Additionally, the cabinet is being asked to consider extending the trial to Western Way car park in Pembroke Dock—another site near a ferry port—after three months of monitoring the results at Goodwick Moor.
The report notes that Goodwick Moor has seen high usage by motorhomes, primarily due to its proximity to the ferry terminal, and suggests that a dedicated overnight parking trial could offer valuable insights.
Should the initial trial prove successful, a second site at Western Way could help further evaluate the effectiveness of such facilities in Pembrokeshire’s coastal areas.
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