A resident living in a Welsh seaside town claims she was left "shaking" with anger after a holidaymaker visiting the popular stretch of coastline began "screaming" at her when she asked them to stop blocking her driveway.
In a post on Facebook, a woman living in Penmaenmawr, Conwy, revealed that a tourist had become so angry when confronted, she threw the traffic cones put out to prevent people parking opposite the resident's drive in separate directions, with one cone still missing after it was thrown away from the street.
The on-street argument saw the holidaymaker cursing the resident for apparent anti-tourism attitudes, whilst the woman says the issue is purely one of access, according to North Wales Live. The incident occurred on Station Road, a street commonly affected by parking issues due to its location, with an underpass leading straight to the promenade.
Although the promenade offers free parking, the street is closer to the beach café, playground, and paddling pool so people using those facilities often park there, sometimes making it difficult for residents to gain access to their homes due to narrow sections of the road and faded "keep clear" markings wearing away - adding to the difficulties faced.
The resident involved in the altercation had taken to putting cones out on the road over the old street markings, which have almost completely worn away, to ensure she can get out of her driveway and onto the narrow road. However, earlier this week she found a car full of visitors parked over them, and went outside to let them know she needed access so they would have to move.
Unfortunately, the confrontation didn't quite go to plan, and soon the woman had one of her cones thrown back at her driveway, with the other chucked off of the road. It hasn't been seen since. Posting about the incident on Facebook, the woman said: "I’m shaking, I’m so bloody angry! I have asked countless people not to park there and not one person has ever reacted that way, it was totally shocking and really uncalled for.
“I went out and said: 'Excuse me, you can’t park there as I won’t be able to get my car out, that’s why the cones are there'. The driver came out screaming at me about shouting – I wasn’t shouting, just asking – then started saying it’s 'cause she was a holidaymaker. Not at all love, I just need to get in and out.
“Seriously, don’t take it out on me if you're having a crap holiday and have a bit of bloody respect for the locals who have to live here and still drive their cars. I don’t give a crap if you’re a holidaymaker or local, I still would have asked you not to park there so I could get in and out of my drive. The stupid thing is all she had to do is pull the car up a few feet and save all the bloody drama.”
The clash shows some of the conflicts in many coastal towns, particularly smaller ones, during peak tourism season when visitors flock to the area and park on residential roads with no restrictions to avoid paying for parking - often leaving local residents with nowhere to park themselves.
Some residents in Penmaenmawr say they often have to park some distance from their homes and that things can get “very annoying”. The problem stretches over to Paradise Road and Brynmor Terrace, but those living in Station Road tend to be affected by the issue the most. One of the most frustrating parts for locals is the amount of parking available in the town, with forty free spaces in Station Car Park a short distance away, and a large pay-and-display facility in the town centre with room for 82 cars. Both are well-signposted but they are a few minutes further from the beach so tourists often choose to park closer to their destination, inconveniencing local residents.
Another resident reported similar problems. “I have real difficulty parking at the front by my house during the summer months,” she said. “I have to park in our overflow car park, which is far from ideal. I just wish people were more considerate.” Some in the community want parking permits or additional road restrictions. One resident said: “It should be permit only all along here at the front. There are car parks for holidaymakers to use. The amount of times there are cars blocking all along the road by the tunnel as well – if a fire engine needs to come through we are screwed.”
The Station Road resident plans to lobby Conwy Council for action. “It’s so infuriating when you can’t access your house,” she said. “Parking is such an issue all up and down the road when it’s this busy. And it’s getting worse with more people holidaying at home rather than abroad.”
Conwy Council was approached for a comment by our sister paper North Wales Live, but had not responded to them at the time of publication. As residents have not raised the issue with Penmaenmawr Town Council the authority said it was not in a position to act.
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