The congregation of a Pembrokeshire chapel, where attendance has dropped by 30 per cent since the free parking time in a supermarket car park was reduced, is celebrating a ‘significant step in the right direction’.

Fishguard’s Coop reduced its free parking from two hours to 90 minutes this summer. Drivers have also been banned from using the car park when the store is closed.

Hermon Chapel is situated opposite the car park and its congregation has historically parked there while they worship.

Before the new rules, elderly members of the congregation would normally park before 9.30, which is no longer allowed under the new rules.

They would attend chapel, stay after the service to catch up with friends and then shop at the Coop before leaving the car park within the two-hour time limit.

They say the new 90 minute maximum has made it difficult for them to enjoy their time at chapel.

Chapel secretary Hedydd Hughes said that many elderly congregation members have had parking tickets and are worried about further fines.

“Since this has all blown up it has had a detrimental effect on the number of people coming and the time spent together,” she said.

“Prior to this our elderly members would arrive at 9.30, potter about and have a chat and stay after the service. It gave them two hours in the community with friends,” she said.

“The amount of time that people who attending the service spend together to enjoy each other’s company has gone,” she said. “It is an important part of the [chapel] experience. We are trying to maintain support in the community for older people.”

She added that, although extra parking time can be purchased from Horizon, through a QR code or online, most of the elderly congregation members would not have the technical knowledge to do this.

The gradient and distance from other car parks in the town makes it hard for most elderly chapel goers to use these.

Hedydd had been emailing the Coop about the issues but had had no response for more than a month, until the Western Telegraph got involved.

In response to our queries the supermarket has said it will provide chapel goers with an extra hour’s free parking on Sunday morning. This means that, for example, from 9am to 11.30am no parking charge notices will be issued to Hermon’s congregation.

“This enables users of the chapel to arrive before 10am and stay until 11:30am on a Sunday which they have explained would make a big difference to them,” said a spokesperson for the supermarket.

Blue badge holders can also be added to an exemption list in store which excuses them from timing restrictions.

“It is sometimes necessary to manage car parking spaces, to ensure that space remains available for our customers and, so that they are not abused,” said the spokesperson.

“However, where we do manage car park spaces we work to do this fairly, and to continue to benefit the wider community wherever possible.”

Hedydd said that the changes were a ‘significant step’, which she doubted would have happened without the Western Telegraph, and she was now waiting for an official response.

“Hopefully, Coop will send me confirmation of these points” she said. “These changes will make a significant difference.”