Sir,
With reference to your published picture of the inner side to our town walls in your issue of July 14, yet another opportunity has been missed by the local authority in not acquiring the Coburg site in Upper Frog Street as a sitting out place for visitors to go in inclement weather.
These beautiful arches inside the town walls have not been seen by the public for 150 years. What a tourist attraction, grassed over, with a band stand and covered alcoves all around the perimeter, plus a tea and ice cream bar, and with a little soft music. There is not a shelter remaining on the North Beach, and where do our visitors go when it rains - into the Market or to Woolworths!
When the De Valence was demolished in the '70s, we begged the authorities to bring the site back to what it was in days gone by (see photograph). Shanleys was available at the time and offered a very fine sprung dance floor, plus cinema with theatre organ which rose up from the stage, and with many other amenities. No one would listen to our pleas.
Over the last 50 years Tenby has quietly deteriorated. This Coburg site was the very last chance to do something for the town and its visitors. Why leave it to the developers to cash in? Is it that no one really cares these days? If they do, then the shouting is not very loud.
Graham R. Hughes (Tenby born and bred),
Squibbs Studios, Warren Street, Tenby.