**Seasonal Car Park at Popular Pembrokeshire Beauty Spot Given Green Light**
A field situated in one of Pembrokeshire’s most picturesque areas has officially been sanctioned for use as a seasonal car park, following approval by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority. The decision is expected to ease pressures on local infrastructure and support the region’s thriving visitor economy, particularly during peak tourist seasons.
The application, submitted by Mr and Mrs Smithies via their planning agent, Harries Planning Design Management, concerned a site just south of the established National Trust car park at Martins Haven near the village of Marloes. This field, traditionally employed as overspill parking during the busiest months, has now received retrospective endorsement through the granting of a certificate of lawfulness. Such certificates are designed to regularise longstanding but unofficial uses of land where applicants can provide sufficient evidence of continuous activity over an extended period.
At approximately 3km from Marloes, the field has long served as an important resource for visitors making day trips via boat—frequently to the renowned wildlife sanctuary of Skomer Island—as well as for walkers exploring the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. In a supporting statement, the applicants emphasised that the additional parking provision helps prevent congestion on the notoriously narrow access roads to Martins Haven, particularly in the peak summer months when the principal National Trust-run car park is often overwhelmed by demand.
With Pembrokeshire and Skomer Island’s popularity showing little sign of abating, concerns have mounted regarding the suitability and capacity of local facilities to handle increasing visitor numbers. The use of this field as an overflow area, the applicants argued, has become “vital to ensure continued road safety for the area.” In addition, comparison was made to the parking arrangements already established on the neighbouring National Trust site, highlighting that the field’s purpose mirrors that of the existing car park and benefits the local tourist infrastructure.
Evidence submitted alongside the application included photographic records of the car park in operation dating as far back as 2011, as well as online reviews from popular platforms such as TripAdvisor, referencing its use in 2014, 2021, and 2022. The owners also provided details of ongoing public liability insurance, first taken out in 2013 and still active at present, which further substantiated their claim of sustained use.
There was minor disruption in 2020, the applicants acknowledged, as lockdown restrictions and uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic led to a brief reduction in visitors. Nonetheless, officials accepted that this interruption did not materially affect the continuity required for lawful development status.
Following a thorough review of the submitted documentation, the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s planning officers recommended approval, remarking that there was “sufficient evidence to establish that the existing use is lawful.” The authority’s formal endorsement of the certificate now establishes legal certainty for the operators and reassures both visitors and local residents that appropriate parking facilities are in place for the foreseeable future.
This decision also highlights wider issues around managing tourism in some of Wales’s most beloved landscapes. As the demand on beauty spots continues to grow, questions remain about how best to balance conservation and accessibility, ensuring visitors enjoy what the area has to offer without causing undue pressure on the environment or local communities.
The regularisation of the Martins Haven car park demonstrates a pragmatic approach to a recurring problem in popular destinations. By providing a legitimate overflow area, officials hope to protect both sensitive access routes and the quality of visitors’ experiences along this stretch of the Pembrokeshire coast. How other tourist hotspots adapt to similar pressures will be closely watched by local authorities and tourism bodies across Wales.