Campers set to be fined for parking overnight at beauty spot
PEOPLE are going to be fined £100 if they park overnight at a Welsh beauty spot that featured in hit movies including Harry Potter.
The National Trust has made the decision to trial an enforcement option at Freshwater West in Pembrokeshire for a one-year period to clamp down on people who park or camp illegally at three car parks – all within close proximity of each other – between the hours of 10pm and 6am.
The charity says the move is a reaction to “real problems” at the site that need to be “urgently tackled”. These problems include overnight camping and an increase in litter.
An application to erect 10 signs at the beauty spot was approved by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s development management committee at a meeting in Pembroke Dock on Wednesday.
The spot is a huge tourist draw not only because of its beautiful surroundings, but also because of its history in the film business.
Freshwater West was used as a filming location for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows starring Daniel Radcliffe in 2009.
It also featured in Robin Hood, Ridley Scott’s 2010 blockbuster starring Russell Crowe.
The plans to eradicate overnight parking drew large-scale criticism from locals and tourists alike – almost 600 letters in opposition were received and an online petition set up in retaliation to the proposals has been signed by more than 8,200 people.
The National Trust has defended the now-approved application and say they are intent on ensuring that the spot remains a “special place”.
A National Trust spokeswoman said: “This is not a curfew – there will still be plenty of parking available. However, overnight illegal camping, which is leading to real problems in the area for those who want to park during the day and enjoy this amazing stretch of coastline, is something that has to be urgently tackled to benefit the vast majority of people who visit Freshwater West.”
Meanwhile, new tributes have appeared at the beach which is the “final resting spot” of Dobby – one of the heroes of the wizarding world.
Special messages written on stones have appeared – just months after the original tribute to the Harry Potter character went missing.
Socks have also been left behind – in tribute to the house elf whose freedom was won when a sock was inside a book given to him.
In the film, Harry Potter digs Dobby’s grave in the gardens of Shell Cottage in a scene shot at the Welsh beach in 2009.
A memorial stone was placed at the exact spot where the elf was buried, long after the film crews left.
It has since attracted fans from all over the world to pay their respects at the Pembrokeshire beach.
In April the simple stone which read ‘Here lies Dobby – a free elf’ vanished from the site.