More Car Parking concerns in Haverfordwest

More Car Parking concerns in Haverfordwest

New conditions have been unveiled by owners Ateb housing association for car parking behind the former County Library / community college Dew Street site in Haverfordwest. 

While grateful for the free parking period over Christmas, local residents query the legality of the new conditions posted. Mike Daffern, Acting Secretary of the Dew Street Campaign commented, “According to signs erected this week, parkers can either pay by phone or through the internet - realistically these are the same, both requiring a (smart) phone and thus inaccessible for many car users, especially discriminating against the elderly.

The code of practice produced by Government requires at least two different methods for payment. As we are pushed increasingly towards a cashless society, most car parks at least give the options to pay by phone or bank card.” Also, local residents were informed through constituency Cllr Tom Tudor before Christmas that Ateb’s intention was to follow Pembrokeshire County Council’s pricing practices in the New Year.

This was expected to reduce the cost of residents’ parking permits to PCC’s, but on enquiryresidents have been told that the cost is more than 4 x that amount and includes a 30% rise from last year’s charge. Residents also wonder when Ateb are going to get on with their plan to refurbish the former library , for which planning permission was granted in 2023.

Rumour has it that they have now decided on an alternative site for their headquarters in Milford Haven following the closure of Meyler House in Haverfordwest.

If so, why can’t they engage with the community to find an alternative use for the former library? https://www.atebgroup.co.uk/meyler-house-closure/ .

Due to the concern of continued deterioration to the building a petition signed by ninety-five locals submitted a request to CADW which is under consideration for listing of the building.

The request is supported by the Royal Commission of Ancient and Historical Monuments for Wales (RCAHMW), and The Twentieth Century Society in Wales. The former community building also appeared in a book published recently extolling the virtues of 20th Century architecture called Brutal Wales / Cymru Friwtalaidd , by Simon Phipps