Local councillors have stated that they don’t want to see plans to develop a ‘master plan’ for Tenby just left ‘on the shelf’ like past proposals.

Members of Tenby Town Council recently gave their backing in principle to Pembrokeshire County Council’s idea of a ‘master plan’ to revitalise towns across the county, with the authority’s regeneration manager, Sinead Henehan, outlining a strategy to develop ‘master plans’ for places such as Tenby, focusing on an ‘holistic vision’ for the town’s commercial function, and cultural importance.

Part of the plan’s purpose would be to enhance Tenby’s town centre environment, and identify deliverable opportunities for new and well integrated development projects, as well as looking at transport and parking systems; landscape setting and historic built heritage; and its role as a workplace.

Discussing the matter again at Tuesday night’s meeting of the town council, Mayor, Clr. Laurence Blackhall, said that he’d like to set up a group to throw ideas around about the ‘master plan’ with representatives from the town council, the town’s regeneration committee, PCC and the authority’s link officers.

Clr. Mrs. Christine Brown questioned the point and purpose of the ‘master plan’ proposal, telling her colleagues that similar ‘action plans’ had been touted before in 1999 and nothing had come to fruition.

“It seems that we would be left with a plan exactly like the ‘Tenby 2020 Action Plan’ and just focus on what we’d want to see, but not how to get it!” she commented.

Her colleague, Clr. Paul Rapi, disagreed and felt that it was an entirely different approach this time.

“A ‘master plan’ should be about what we want in the future, so if potential big investors were interested in Tenby, we already have a prioritised plan in place of what we would like to see developed,” he said.

Clr. Blackhall agreed with his colleague: “The point Clr. Rapi makes is important, as we need to position ourselves where we want to be as a town, however ambitious any plan may be, and say to investors here is a vision.

“Ultimately ideas will be about how we attract people to Tenby,” he added.

Clr. Mrs. Caroline Thomas said that a feasibility study carried out a few years previous by the then harbourmaster, which included plans for the harbourside and sluice, could be a good place to start with any potential ideas.

Clr. Will Rossiter said that it would be worthwhile considering whether the ‘master plan’ proposals should extend to the surrounding area of Tenby, which was a valid point, the town clerk Andrew Davies agreed, as it could consider matters like the introduction of a ‘park and ride’ facility out of town.

Mr. Davies said that with the Haverfordwest ‘master plan’ being developed, other town councils in the county, such as Fishguard and Milford Haven, were discussing their options this week.

“Pembroke too have given their support in principle, but are waiting to hear back on costs. Pembroke Dock council have started with their proposals, but not in conjunction with PCC,” explained Mr. Davies.

“We’ve got to think about the money first, before we consider putting any plans down,” added Clr. Mrs. Brown.