PARKING charge increases in Pembrokeshire, which include part of Tenby’s multi-storey and the new Haverfordwest interchange moving to a 24-hour charging model, have been backed by senior councillors.

At the March meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet, members were asked to back a number of amendments to the current Pembrokeshire County Council parking charges.

For parking permits the changes proposed, to take effect from April 1, were: Y Penfro, parking across any long stay car park all year, from £240 a year to £300; The Puffin, which allows non-vehicle specific parking in a specific named car park all year round, from £180 to £240; Coastal, a transferable permit to allow a vehicle to park in specific seasonal car parks, up from £120 season to £160; Parking Permit Passport, a weekly permit transferable across all long stay car parks, from £35 to £40 a week.

These changes are expected to net an extra £25,000 a year.

At the Haverfordwest Interchange, changes, moving from a 9am-7pm charging to 24 hours, include the first hour now being free, with additional charges to the current rates of 10 hrs at £3.50 and 24 hrs at £4.50, along with a new dedicated motorcycle bay charge of £1 per 24 hours.

At Tenby multi-storey, to take effect from May 1, the proposal is to introduce 24 hours charging on floors 1–3. The ground floor would remain as charging between 9am and 7pm, this floor is short stay only, maximum stay two hours.

The main additional summer charges are: 10 hours £6, 24 hours £10, and weekly £50, up from the current £30; winter rates see 10 hours £3, 24 hours £5, and weekly £25, the latter up from £15.

From March 2027, Tenby Harbour Resident Permits see no cost changes, but a maximum of two vehicle registrations allowed, but a Tenby Harbour visitors permit will be introduced at a cost of £60 per vehicle.

These would be via a Variation Order which involves consultation. It is proposed to bring back any comments to Cabinet prior to implementing.

In Haverfordwest, a new four-hour charge, at £3, for Perrots Road is proposed alongside the current one and two-hour stay charges.

The town’s Hole in the Wall Car park is proposed to be revoked.

Two sites at Gelliswick Seafront currently have no enforceable parking restrictions. Due to recurring issues including overnight camping, it is proposed to introduce: Gelliswick Seafront – free parking, and Gelliswick – free parking.

Many of these changes will be require variation orders.

Other general cincreases proposed included: on street resident permit, £46 a year (to £48); on street visitor permit £52.50 (£60); compound £200 a week (£250); charity £50 (£65) free if all funds to charity; events, on a sliding scale dependent on the percentage capacity of the car park used from less than 50 per cent £100 (£150), 50-75 per cent £175 (£225) and over 75 per cent £225 (£275).

Members backed the changes, also agreeing to undertake a full review of parking services operations to include parking charges, charging periods, seasonal charges, license opportunities, in line with full cost recovery, with a report back to Cabinet in June 2027 – any changes to be implemented from September 2027.

REFORM UK has gained its first county council seat in Pembrokeshire following a seven-way battle for a ward made vacant following the death of veteran councillor Mike Stoddart.

Cllr Mike Stoddart, who passed away in January, represented Milford Haven’s Hakin ward, and had been a county councillor for more than two decades, having first been elected in 2004, with wife Vivien and daughter Tessa Hodgson also having county seats, Hubberston and Lamphey respectively, with Tessa also serving as Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care.

The late Cllr Stoddart was well-known as an outspoken councillor, critical of failings and injustices, as he had been when he set up the Milford Mercury newspaper with his family before he became a councillor.

In later years, Cllr Stoddart also held an often-critical mirror to council and councillor activities through his popular Old Grumpy website.

Following his death a by-election was held for the Hakin ward, with the count taking place on March 17, initially with an eight-way fight for the seat.

That eight-way fight was reduced to seven when Labour candidate Nicola Harteveld, who set up charity foundation the Megan’s Starr Foundation, withdrew her candidacy after allegations a family member was harassed during her campaigning.

Those standing for the ward included parties the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Welsh Conservatives, Reform, the Green Party, and three independents.

Results for the ward, which saw a 32.7 per cent voter turnout were: Derrick William Charles Abbott, Independent, 11 votes; Samuel Robert Booth, Wales Green Party, 85; Lee James Bridges, Independent, 106; Duncan Ritchie Edwards, Independent, 52; Brian Kelvin Taylor, Welsh Conservative Party, 144; Samuel Warden, Welsh Liberal Democrats, 57; Scott Michael Thorley, Reform UK, 179.

Nicola Catherine Harteveld, Welsh Labour, who withdrew her candidacy, still attracted 27 votes.

Winner Scott Thorley had previously unsuccessfully stood as a Reform candidate for the Prendergast Haverfordwest ward seat made vacant following the resignation of local county councillor Andrew Edwards.

He was later co-opted on to Haverfordwest Town Council.

Speaking after his Hakin ward win, the-now Cllr Thorley said: “It was a massive honour to win last night and I’m more than aware I’ve got some massive shoes to fill in Hakin.

“I’ve already started work this morning and have responded to four residents first thing.

“People in Hakin just want the basics done right and someone they can reach out with any issues they have; I will be that person.”

THE PRICE of school meals in Pembrokeshire is to rise after senior councillors heard their current costs can no longer be sustained without financial losses to the authority.

At the March meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet, members were asked to back increases to the price of paid school meals in primary and secondary schools from September 1.

A report for members said prices “have remained unchanged for seven years and can no longer be sustained due to rising operational and staffing costs”.

It said the School Meals Service is experiencing significant financial pressure as a result of food price inflation and National Living Wage increases, rising to £12.21 per hour, adding: “While the service currently maintains an overall surplus, recent analysis shows that the secondary school catering service will enter a deficit in 2026/27 without a price adjustment.”

For primary schools, the service provides approximately 6,500 meals per day across 53 schools, adding: “The unit cost of producing a paid for primary school meal now exceeds the costs of production (this include ingredients and additional overheads). This misalignment has created a structural deficit for each meal served.

“As we are managing to a total cost recovery model rather than a static unit price, the £3.40 Universal Primary Free School Meals rate is the most reliable proxy for current production costs for a primary pupil meal.”

Members were recommended to increase paid meals by 20p and adult meals by 49p.

For secondary schools, the service provides 3,500 meals daily across eight secondary schools, where a cafeteria style- model is used.

The report said: “Meal prices have been frozen since 2019. Despite efficiency measures such as supply chain reviews and menu consolidation, food inflation and wage increases now exceed what can be absorbed operationally. It is no longer possible to provide a high quality, nutritionally balanced two- course meal within the current pricing structure.”

As part of a proposed service saving of £200,000 for this financial year it was recommended to increase the price of individual menu items by some 11 per cent.

It added: “Despite maintaining static meal prices for seven years, the Council’s proposed rates remain competitive when compared with neighbouring authorities. Recent benchmarking shows widespread variation, with many councils planning further price increases before September 2026.”

Members backed recommendations that the price of a paid primary school meal increases from £2.55 to £2.75, with adult meals rising from £3.51 to £4.

They also backed increasing the price of individual secondary school meal menu items by 11 per cent, subject to targeted increases rather than a blanket rise.