Campervan Trial Scheme

The recently approved Pembrokeshire council trial scheme for an overnight motorhome and campervan parking site close to Fishguard’s ferry came under the spotlight at full council.

A trial scheme for overnight motorhome parking facilities at the Goodwick Moor car park, The Parrog, was mooted last year after a February 2024 council Cabinet-backed trial scheme for ‘Pembs Stop’ campervan and motorhomes facilities at four car parks was later dropped.

It had initially been agreed that car parks at North Beach, Tenby; Goodwick Moor, Goodwick; Townsmoor, Narberth; and Western Way, Pembroke Dock would form the trial areas operating year-round at £10 a night for a trial 18-month period, with the intention not to create ‘campsites’.

That planned trial received national coverage, with a discussion on a phone-in programme on BBC Radio Wales.

Local tourism businesses had said the proposals will harm them, and concerns about the trial were also raised by the official tourism industry group for Pembrokeshire, Visit Pembrokeshire.

That scheme was later dropped following opposition, instead an overnight trial stopover facility for motorhomes at Goodwick Moor car park, linked to the ferry port mooted; a later planning application approved back in July despite objections from Fishguard and Goodwick Town Council.

A submitted question heard at the October 9 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council by Cllr Di Clements said: “No facilities will be provided, and no licences will be required.  Does the appropriate Cabinet Member believe it is fair that private site owners require a site licence stating maximum numbers allowed, a fire safety space requirement between units, the provision of water, litter and foul water/chemical toilet disposal?  All costs the private site owner has to bear.

“However, PCC will not have the burden of providing those facilities and none of the associated costs.”

Responding, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services Cllr Rhys Sinnett said the scheme was not set up as a campsite but as a one-night stopover facility, adding: “The site fundamentally remains a car park, it is materially different to the us of the land as a camping site.”

He told members officers would continue to monitor the site for any signs of “waste or nuisance”.

Asking a supplementary question on behalf of Cllr Clements, Cllr Mark Carter said: “Is the Cabinet member confident this is going to be a success in terms of payments being made, and do we have the capacity to control this in a safe manner?”

Cllr Sinnett said officers would check payments had been made and conditions adhered to, adding: “It’s not going to obliterate our budget shortfall but hopefully bring us in some funding, it’s already been used for the purpose, this is just us attempting to regularise its use.”

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