Newport Sands disabled driver access not expected to return

to date.

It was claimed an outright ban will have an adverse effect on a wide cross-section of beach users, including disabled visitors.

At the June meeting of the National Park Authority, members heard a specialist report on potential disabled access had been commissioned; an update and report will now be heard by the July 26 meeting of the authority.

The update for members says the consultant’s report raises a number of issues.

materially different from the preexisting practises.

“The existing beach access infrastructure would need to be assessed and adapted to ensure it was safe and fit for purpose before any beach parking offer could reasonably be offered to meet the essential needs of disabled people.”

The update says “it would be unreasonable and unrealistic to encourage or promote ongoing disabled beach parking for the foreseeable future”.

DISABLED driver access is not expected to be reintroduced at a ‘car-free’ Pembrokeshire beach recently bought by the national park, at least for this year.

Earlier this year, Pembrokeshire Coast

National Park Authority ended parking on the Newport Sands beach after purchasing the land, in response to growing safety concerns and following decades of damage.

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.

Part of this included the later installation of a