Ways of tackling unauthorised ‘street trading’ in towns across Wales such as Tenby, are to be discussed at the National Assembly for Wales.

Members of Tenby Town Council recently confirmed that they were liaising with the legal department of Pembrokeshire County Council to explore what process could be put in place to introduce a bye-law banning all ‘service providers’ (street traders) from the streets of Tenby.

The town clerk, Andrew Davies, recently said that it was a problem that councillors had been trying to resolve for the past 13 years in Tenby, and that they had approached PCC’s head of public protection, Mark Elliott ,on the matter, who agreed with the suggestion of introducing a bye-law, but admitted that it could be a long process.

Tenby Chamber of Trade and Tourism have also backed the idea of a bye-law to restrict street trading in the town, with members stating that the increase in ‘service providing traders’ in the town during the summer is to its ‘detriment’.

Mr. Davies also explained that he had approached local AMs to gain their assistance and support in investigating a bye-law to alleviate the issue.

Speaking at Tuesday night’s meeting of the town council, Mr. Davies told members that Angela Burns, the Assembly Member for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, had come back to him on the issue, and that she had looked at the Manchester City Council Act 2010 which dealt with street traders and service providers.

“She is going to discuss the possibility of introducing something similar as an ‘All Wales Act’ at the Welsh Assembly Government,” Mr. Davies told councillors.

The Mayor, Clr. Laurence Blackhall, said that maybe they could call it a ‘Tenby Act’ if it was successfully passed by the Welsh Government.

“They can call it what they like if it gets rid of them!” laughed Clr. Mike Evans.