A SHUTTERED Prestatyn business has been forced to fashion a "barricade" with picnic tables to keep out unwanted visitors.

A plea on Facebook to owners of the “cars packing” on to private land at The Beaches Hotel has fallen on deaf ears.

As between 30 and 40 cars continued to present a nuisance to the business, parking on its lawn, the hotel’s lone member of on site staff was forced to take matters into their own hands.

Rhyl Journal:

The car park at the hotel has been closed since lockdown began. Picture: Google Street View

A spokesperson for the said: “For the first two or three days after that message was posted on social media, people just kept parking along the grass at the front.

“At different times there were as many as 12 people parked on there, and then they drive off and more people would come on throughout the day.

“We’ve spoke to the traffic wardens and they’ve told us that because it’s private land, they can’t do anything.

“So on Friday, June 19 the staff member created a barricade with eight railway sleepers and fence posts, four picnic benches and about 20 concrete slabs.

“There is also wooden stakes in the gaps.”

In the original post on the business’ Facebook page, on Monday, June 15, a spokesperson for the hotel described their sadness at having to clear litter from the site - as well as the damage done to the lawn - as the hotel uses lockdown on maintenance.

The spokesperson added:”There’s only one member of staff on site while everyone is on furlough, who is working on deep cleaning and modifications whole the hotel is empty - they don’t need to spend two hours of their time building a barricade.

“It’s frustrating really, the managed did try and speak to some of the people parking there, explaining that they’re ruining the grass but they didn’t seem to see what the problem was.

“When you’re working on the front all day, you come to recognise a lot of the regulars and you hear accents of the families - you can tell a lot of them aren’t from North Wales.”

The issue at The Beaches follows Denbighshire county councillor Paul Penlington’s calls for action against “hordes” of visitors - believed to be from outside the area - to Central and Barkby beaches earlier this month.

Since the barricade was installed, vehicles have taken to parking on double yellow lines along Beach Road East up towards and into the entrance of Pontins Holiday, which remains closed in accordance with Coronavirus guidelines.

Rhyl Journal:

Drivers heading to the beach front have now taken to parking on double yellow lines outside the hotel

A spokesperson for North Wales Police said: “North Wales Police are aware of vehicles that have been parking on double yellow lines at The Beaches Hotel in Prestatyn, and causing an obstruction. We are asking for motorists to adhere to the parking restrictions at the location and to be respectful of local residents.

“Police will make contact and work with Denbighshire County Council Parking Enforcement and deal with any offending vehicles.”

Denbighshire County Council have been approached for comment.