Tenby councillors are hoping to tap into a pot of funding that could help them tackle highway related issues across the town.

At Tuesday night’s meeting of the town council, members met with Clr. Phil Baker, Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning and Infrastructure, who discussed the new community works grant scheme for the county.

Clr. Baker explained that there was a pot of £10,000 each for ten separate projects for community and town councils across the county.

“Hopefully this will see town councils such as yourselves picking up a meaningful project that is close to your hearts but has never quite reached the top of a list,” he explained.

“These could be different schemes that have been sitting around for years that have never got off the ground, and we will be looking for town and community councils to put their bids in with an expression of interest once they have identified such a project.

Clr. Baker said that as it was ‘highways’ grant the project should involve certain aspects that fall into that category.

Clr. Laurence Blackhall said that perhaps such funding could be used to put in proper bollards and traffic lights during the town’s summer pedestrianisation scheme, therefore doing away with the need for barriers that can be moved, and the constant hiring of traffic lights over that period.

He also suggested that signage around the town that was surplus to requirements and redundant could be looked at and removed, with the town clerk pointing to a ‘finger post’ sign on the Norton/Croft that pointed to something in the resort that didn’t exist anymore.

Deputy Mayor, Clr. Christine Brown said that areas around Battery Road near to the South Beach and Jubilee play park could be considered, whilst Clr. Mrs. Sue Lane and Clr. Paul Rapi also suggested that St Florence Parade and South Parade could be considered.

“Since the trees were removed three years ago along the South Parade, there have been big holes left there in the pavement,” said Clr. Rapi, with Clr. Mrs. Brown adding as that the holes had just been covered in gravel it was ‘unsightly’.

“It is also rather dangerous for anyone walking along there,” remarked the Mayor, Clr. Tony Brown.

The town clerk Andre Davies told Clr. Baker that the town council had touted a suggestion in recent years to illuminate the historic town walls, but as the ‘regeneration team’ tasked with looking at improvements to the South Parade in general had disbanded.

“The town council had come up with an idea for LED lighting for the town walls to wash them in different colours for events such as Ironman Wales and the Six Nations, and when the ‘regeneration team’ went forward with such an idea, it was thought that any project along the South Parade may as well incorporate improvements to the area as a whole, such as the pavements, after the trees had been removed,” explained Mr. Davies.

“However, feasibility studies into such work were disproportionate and would cost in the region of £50,000, so it was felt that any money would be better spent on actually getting something done, rather than just looking at getting something done,” he continued.

“We haven’t got that sort of money, but we don’t mind being part of a funding project alongside PCC to improve the South Parade - but at the moment even though the flower planters look lovely along there during the summer, they don’t really cure the problem long term, and is just like sticking a plaster on it,” commented Clr. Mrs. Lane.

“This area of Tenby really needs to be repaired by PCC, as it is their responsibility, and they are in a better position than us to find the funding to do it,” she added.

Clr. Baker added that bids towards the scheme should be put in before the end of this financial year, and if projects from the scheme prove worthwhile, then it is something that they hoped could continue each year.