A PEMBROKESHIRE national park scheme to redevelop Newport Sands’ car park, with extra parking spaces, beach access ramps, and new public conveniences is expected to be approved next week by the authority’s planning committee.

In an application recommended for approval at Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s development management committee meeting of December 4, land owner the national park seeks permission for the demolition and replacement of the existing public convenience block, the creation of an access ramp and steps to south slipway, the erection of a beach wheelchair storage building, and works to the existing car park, including new pay and display machines, at Newport Sands PCNP Car Park, Golf Course Road.

The works include an extra 52 car parking spaces over the 43 currently there, along with an increase in disabled parking spaces.

Newport Sands/Traeth Mawr became car-free last May; the Authority ended parking on the Newport Sands beach after purchasing the land, in response to growing safety concerns.

It said the beach would be a ‘car-free’ zone, with exceptions only allowed for emergency services and essential car users such as the RNLI and coastguards.

A petition was later launched demanding a backtrack, saying an outright ban will have an adverse effect on a wide cross-section of beach users, including disabled visitors.

Last July, members of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s authority agreed to keep the car-free resolution, along with “actively pursuing options of how to improve access for people living with disability”.

Between October and November of last year, the Park also ran an online public consultation regarding the future of Traeth Mawr, with 107 responses received, members of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s authority heard back in March, when proposals for the changes outlined in the application were discussed, with anticipated costs associated for the project in the region of £330-£350,000.

A report for committee members ahead of the December meeting says: “The proposal will result in improved and enhanced services for visitors to the Newport Sands car park by providing better beach access, clearly laid out parking bays and pedestrian zones, improved public convenience facilities, and landscaping enhancements across the site.  The provision of a changing places facility, beach wheelchair storage and new access ramp are likely to assist in enhancing access for wheelchair users to this site.

“Overall, officers consider that the proposals are acceptable and that the scheme as a whole protects the special qualities of the National Park whilst delivering appropriate enhancements to this important community facility.”

Responding to concerns about a limited mobile signal making it difficult to pay for parking by phone ‘apps’ it is proposed to offer contactless card payment.

The report concludes: “The proposal will result in improved and enhanced services for visitors to the popular Newport Sands car park by providing better beach access, clearly laid out parking bays and pedestrian zones, improved public convenience facilities, and landscaping enhancements across the site. Therefore, the proposed scheme is considered to be acceptable in terms of scale, form, use and design.”

FAMILIES are invited to embark on a magical journey this winter with the launch of the Winter Festive Nature Trail, opening Saturday 23 November at Oriel y Parc, National Park Discovery Centre, St Davids. Perfect for explorers of all ages, this enchanting trail combines nature, fun and festive cheer in an outdoor adventure.

Visitors will uncover seven glowing animals, each hidden within a unique habitat. Armed with a special magic torch, participants will reveal and collect glowing animals as they follow the trail. Once completed, families can return to the desk to reunite the animals with their festive homes and claim a Nature Adventurer’s treat.

This engaging event runs daily from 9.30am-3.30pm until Friday 20 December. Entry is £4 per child, making it an affordable and memorable activity for families.

Adding to the festive magic, Oriel y Parc welcomes the return of its North Pole Post Box. Children can write letters to Santa, sharing their festive wishes, and drop them into the special post box. After three days, families can return to pick up a personalised reply from Santa along with a surprise from the elves’ workshop. The Free Post Office will operate from Saturday 23 November – Thursday 19 December, spreading holiday cheer to visitors of all ages.

The festivities continue with the highly anticipated Christmas Market on Saturday 7 December from 10am to 3pm. This market is a perfect opportunity to embrace the holiday spirit while browsing an array of local craft and food stalls. Live music performances by the Solva Ukulele Pirates and the Barn Howlers will create a lively atmosphere throughout the day.

Visitors will find a wide selection of unique handmade gifts and treasures from talented local makers and producers, perfect for Christmas shopping. Seasonal food will be available from the new team at The Brunch House, offering warming and delicious dishes to enjoy during the event. With free entry and parking, the market is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the season and support local artisans.

Oriel y Parc is delighted to welcome visitors to these special seasonal events, offering something for everyone to enjoy. From magical trails to festive shopping and Santa’s special deliveries, the holiday season at Oriel y Parc promises to be unforgettable.

For more details on Christmas events and The Brunch House opening hours throughout November and December, visit www.orielyparc.co.uk.

RAIL passengers in Pembrokeshire are being urged to plan ahead as the ‘most significant mainline timetable change in a generation’ is set to take effect in December. The changes promise increased services, better train spacing, and improved connectivity for the county’s rail users.

The new timetable, which comes into force on Sunday, December 15, will see adjustments across south Wales, made possible by the introduction of the state-of-the-art Class 197 train fleet. Transport for Wales (TfW) says these changes will result in additional services, later departures from Cardiff Central and Swansea, and more consistent scheduling with trains leaving at the same time past each hour.

Pembrokeshire passengers will see several significant improvements:

• Milford Haven: Two extra services will run from the station.
• Fishguard Harbour: The timetable will eliminate a six-hour midday gap, with more evenly spaced services to and from the station.

TfW’s journey planner indicates new service times:

• Outbound from Fishguard: A new service at 4:04pm will bridge the current gap between 12:53pm and 7:32pm.
• Inbound to Fishguard: A train arriving at 3:24pm will now fill the gap between 12:22pm and 6:57pm.
• Milford Haven: An additional three trains will run to Carmarthen after December 15.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates, highlighted the impact of the changes:
“This is a major change which will make a real difference to customers, who will benefit from a more consistent service. This has been made possible by our £800m investment in new trains, and it’s great to see the results coming through across Wales.”

Colin Lea, TfW’s Planning and Performance Director, emphasized the scale of the changes:
“This is the most significant timetable change in a generation for mainline services. We’ve been working towards this timetable for four years, and the consistency it will deliver will be a massive improvement for many customers.”

TfW also revealed plans for further improvements over the next 18 months, including updates to the North Wales Coast and Cambrian lines, with newer trains and expanded capacity.

Passengers are advised to check the updated timetable in advance. For details on how your journey will be affected, visit TfW’s journey planner at tfw.wales/plan-a-journey.

The Herald understands that these changes are designed to make rail travel more convenient and accessible for all users.