The Mayor of Tenby has called for an urgent review of the town’s summer pedestrianisation scheme, after pointing out a number of failings that have occurred with the initiative over the 2017 holiday season.

The scheme prohibits unauthorised vehicles from entering the town walls between 11 am and 5.30 pm, during the summer, with restrictions in force from July 10 until today (Friday), to coincide with the school holidays.

Pembrokeshire County Council implemented the ban on an experimental basis in 2002 and, following a public inquiry in 2006, called for by many campaigners living within the town walls, further work took account of the feedback to adjust and finalise the format of the pedestrianisation scheme.

Speaking at Tuesday night’s meeting of Tenby Town Council, Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Sue Lane, told her colleagues that a review of the scheme was required, as many people who lived in and wanted to visit the town seemed to be suffering.

“Now we do not have a town bus, anybody who is not too good on their feet can’t come in!” she said.

“When the scheme was first started, Pembrokeshire County Council had the ‘park and ride’ scheme running to help people into town who had problems with mobility, but now, due to budget cuts and the ‘park and ride’ scheme no longer running as it was, people with ‘blue badges’ living within the town walls now themselves struggle to get in and out!

“These were conditions in place when the scheme started to help look after residents and visitors. People living within the town with ‘blue badges’ were assured they wouldn’t suffer, but it’s no longer working and people can’t get down to areas such as the harbour.

“The county council either have to reinstate the ‘park and ride’ buses, or look at the scheme again, as it can’t possibly work without bus access for people, as those with mobility issues shouldn’t be expected to walk that distance,” continued Clr. Mrs. Lane, with her colleague Clr. Mrs. Tish Rossiter agreeing.

“It’s discriminating against people who want to get down to the harbour, Castle Beach or onto one of the Caldey boats, who aren’t mobile,” she said

“We maybe need to ask the new bus operators for the town if they can look at operating a ‘park and ride’ from Butts Field again. It would be money well spent,” she added.

The town clerk, Andrew Davies, said that the bus system from the Salterns was funded by four separate bodies, including the nearby Kiln Park Holiday Park.

“PCC have made cutbacks and say they don’t have the finances anymore to fund a full ‘park and ride’ scheme, but it’s essential that we look at this,” commented Clr. Trevor Hallett.

Mr. Davies told members that the county council had not asked the town council for ‘feedback’ on the pedestrianisation scheme for a number of years.

“The feedback is... that it’s not as good as it was!” said Clr. Mrs. Christine Brown, who pointed out other aspects of the scheme that seemed to be failing.

“People without permits to enter the town walls seem to be getting in a lot this summer, as vehicles are not being monitored properly.

“The other day at about 3.30 pm, I saw the kids on White Lion corner in their hi-vis jackets, supposed to be monitoring traffic in and out, playing bat and ball on the road!

“A removal lorry then came along, and they just waved it in! Lots of things have happened this summer like this, so I’d suggest we have a meeting on pedestrianisation,” she continued.

Mr. Davies said that he was made aware through complaints to the town council offices that vehicles had been driving down into Tudor Square recently towing boats, with drivers just removing the barriers themselves, with no-one on hand to monitor the situation.

“We’ve had more complaints than ever this summer,” added Mr. Davies.