As briefly reported last week, Pembrokeshire County Council's bid to transform part of Tenby and St. Catherine's Island has been unsuccessful. The council has been told by the Big Lottery Fund that its £20m bid failed to make the final shortlist. Clr. Rob Lewis, cabinet member for sports, leisure, tourism and cultural services, said he was very disappointed at the decision. "We always knew our bid was up against a lot of competition across the UK and that only around six schemes would be forwarded for a final grant, but we had hoped it would progress further," he said. "What particularly pleased us was local reaction to it. I have never known a project, which seemed to attract such widespread support and enthusiasm. We received very little opposition to the scheme. "It certainly seemed to us that locally at least we got it right." The county council's proposal aimed to transform part of Tenby's harbour area as well as St. Catherine's Island Fort. It envisaged the creation of an 'iconic attraction', which would provide the catalyst for improving the quality and investment in the town's buildings and businesses. Clr. Lewis said the council would now review its proposal and examine whether more modest elements of the scheme could still be brought forward. "The exercise has emphasised the importance the local community in Tenby attaches to its harbour area and St. Catherine's Island," he said. "We need to make the most of such important features both for them and for visitors."
