VILLAGERS in St Dogmaels are demanding urgent action to combat the traffic chaos in the streets which they say could cost lives.

Matters came to a head recently when there was a road rage incident involving members of the lifeboat crew responding to an emergency call but struggling to get through because of parked cars and motorists being unaware of them coming.

One resident said: “Every second counts in an emergency and we fear there will be a fatality if this carries on.”

It is not the first time the problem has reared its head but enough is enough as far as the Community Council is concerned.

It has now written to the chief executive of Pembrokeshire County Council asking that parking charges in the High Street car park be suspended through the busy summer months, giving a chance to review the impact free parking has on the current congestion situation.

A statement said: “The Community Council will continue to work with the RNLI to try to find a workable solution to the current problems but any solution will have to be within the current highways laws and will involve discussion with the County Council Highways Authority.”

There has been a call for a public meeting to discuss the situation, while another suggestion is to put up repeater blue signs on lamp posts saying ‘RNLI emergency access route’ which has proved successful in other areas with similar problems.

County councillor Mike James has again highlighted the problem at county hall.

He said: “Traffic lights, unfortunately due to the length of Pilot Street and tail backs on both ends, this is not an option. Pilot Street has always been an issue for the residents living there.

“It's a big issue now due to the higher volume of traffic and popularity of Poppit sands. I have invited the head of highways and construction and the cabinet member for environment and infrastructure to visit the village on July 4 (Tuesday Market day) not only to look at parking issues, Pilot Street, the new path at Poppit, issues at Water Street and surrounding area, but to look at the whole infrastructure of the village.”

A spokesman for Pembrokeshire County Council said: “Although we are have not been informed of this particular incident at the weekend, the Council has previously been made aware of the problems caused to through traffic in the region of Pilot Street as a result of indiscriminate parking.

“As a result ‘no waiting at any time’ restrictions (double yellow lines) are to be installed in the next few weeks along the eastern side of Feidr Fawr between Pilot Street and Maeshyfryd, as well as a short length on the western side at the southern end of Pilot Street.

“The purpose of the restrictions is to remove parking on the footway and also near the pinch point leading into Pilot Street.

“This will ensure that sufficient carriageway width is retained at this location to allow opposing traffic flow and vehicles to exit without any potential confrontation, which is what is presently occurring.”