Pub clamps down on rogue parkers

A Welshpool pub that found its car park was often full before opening its doors has introduced parking management measures.

The Smithfield Bell said that it had to bring in the new system after discovering that its car park was full of vehicles by 9am belonging to workers in the town and shoppers.

Now its owner, Marston’s, has explained why it had to be done, with a number of parkers already facing fines.

The pub group operator said: “To ensure our guests can find a space to park when they visit us, we’ve recently introduced parking management measures at the site.

“This decision follows ongoing challenges with the car park being used by non-customers, which often meant that, by mid-morning, spaces were no longer available for guests coming to enjoy the pub.

“Our priority is to maintain a welcoming and accessible environment for all guests, and these changes are designed to support that. There is no parking charge for the pub’s guests, and we’ve installed clear signage throughout the car park and around the pub to make everyone aware of the new arrangements and vehicle registration process. We encourage anyone using the car park to check the signs before leaving their vehicle.”

The pub’s guests will now have to enter their registration number to ensure they are not charged.