Tenby Train Station is set to undergo a spruce-up in 2021 - with news welcomed that improvements at the facility will make a huge difference to visitors’ experience as they step off the train.

At a recent remote meeting of Tenby Town Council, members were told that the Deputy Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Tracey Evans had taken a keen interest in trying to improve Tenby Railway Station since she joined them.

Clr. Mrs. Evans read the recent news that St Clears was to see its railway station re-opened in the future, and with the Whitland station being refurbished, she contacted local MP Simon Hart on the matter of Tenby, knowing that he had been involved for a long time in discussions on the deterioration of the Tenby station.

In a response shared by Mr. Hart to Clr. Mrs. Evans from Network Rail on the matter, the firm stated: “Tenby was one of 11 schemes across Wales and Borders chosen for ‘Access for All’ funding.

“The ‘Access for All Programme’ provides an obstacle free, accessible route to and between platforms. We manage and deliver the improvements which are funded by the Department for Transport, and in Wales, the schemes are match funded by Welsh Government through Transport for Wales.

“In terms of the development of the scheme at Tenby, we are currently at what we call GRIP 3 – which is essentially option selection – once we’re through that stage of the process, and as the project continues to develop, we will of course ramp up our engagement with stakeholders and the local community.

“In other very good news, we are also planning to deliver a renewal of the canopy at the station – we have some costs back from suppliers and are hoping that this work will commence in the spring. In my experience of similar projects we’ve delivered recently, this will make a huge difference to the overall look and feel of the station.”

“This is all certainly good news for Tenby. All these improvements will make a huge difference to visitors experience as they step off the train,” added the spokesperson for Network Rail.

Clr. Mrs. Evans welcomed the news, especially that the canopy was to be replaced, and proposed that the town council get involved early by writing back to Network Rail directly, as this information had only just come to light.

With regard to carrying out further community volunteer work at the station, Clr. Mrs. Evans said that she was aware that Mr. John Perrett a regular visitor to Tenby who hails from Caerphilly had taken on station adoption duties at the facility in 2019, and had been carrying out an ‘excellent job’ of looking after the platform and watering the flowers.

The Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Skyrme-Blackhall congratulated Clr. Mrs. Evans for keeping this item on the agenda.

“It will be nice to get the station half-way decent again as it is one of the gateways in to Tenby and so important,” remarked the Mayor, adding that it was sad that it had got in to such a state.

It was suggested that the town council form a short-term working group involving the gentleman from Penally who had previously met with councillors and offered to help and also Mr. Perrett who comes down to volunteer.