A REQUEST for special parking permits for carers making home visits was turned down on Thursday (February 1).

Cllr Josh Beynon had asked that care workers be given more freedom in where they can park, to help them keep to strict appointment schedules.

A former community carer himself, Cllr Beynon said it would sometimes take him 10 to 15 minutes to find a space, which cut into his time with clients.

At present, traffic wardens can issue penalty notices to care workers parked in a restricted zones, regardless of whether they display a ‘carer on call’ sign.

If they wish to appeal the notice, the carer’s employer must do so on behalf, and be able to prove their employee was on official care business.

But Cllr Beynon said this added “an extra layer of bureaucracy” to the job.

Darren Thomas, head of highways, said there were “limitations on the amount of road spaces in county towns”.

Allowing carers to park in restricted areas such as taxi bays would add to the pressure on these spaces, he said.

“In terms of issues that come across my desk, I don’t have complaints about this system,” he added.

Cllr Tim Evans, who represents Haverfordwest’s Porfield ward, said the current system was “good enough”, while Merlins Bridge councillor John Cole said the onus was on care firms to train their staff to know where to park.

Cllr Jonathan Preston said the situation could be improved, but did not think this was the way to do it.

Mr Thomas did agree that a letter reminding care firms of the current system – last sent out in 2011 – could be sent out again.