Traders in Tenby's Tudor Square have called on Tenby 2020 to give more consideration to them when planning next year's Café Culture weekend.

While the traders welcomed the idea of bringing a more continental feel to the Square and liked the atmosphere created by allowing cafés and restaurants to have tables and chairs outside, some have questioned the value of allowing stalls selling goods.

Several businesses reported a slump in sales during last June's Café Culture event, placing much of the blame on the positioning of the stalls in front of their premises.

"While the Café Culture ethos of creating a more continental feel in the Square is excellent, why do we need stalls selling food in direct competition to the town's other food outlets?" asked Mr. Nigel Chapple, of The Dainty.

"While we had a great day personally, and really enjoyed the atmosphere, from a trading point of view we had a drastic drop in takings and I know other traders in the Square did too," he said.

"We've never experienced such a marked drop when other events, like the vintage car rally, or the Arts Festival are held in the Square.

"I know other businesses in St. George Street and Upper Frog Street want a 'piece of the action' next year and have events in their streets, but I advise caution, because I think they'll find that their trade will suffer too.

"I suspect that the cafés and restaurants in the Square did well from a drinks point of view during the last Café Culture event, but from a meals point of view, I would question the benefit, because there were so many stalls selling snacks - and very few of them were local businesses."

Mr. Chapple also wondered if the stalls had been charged for 'pitches' in the Square.

"Is 2020 a business?" he asked. "Who is responsible for health and safety. There were cables running everywhere in the Square supplying the stalls."

Kate Gottwaltz, of Jago, also agreed that, while the Café Culture concept was a great idea, "turning the Square into a market had an adverse effect on trade."

"On the whole we had a good summer, and it was noticeable that things wee not so good that day," she said.

"The positioning of the stalls caused problems because they blocked the shops off and, as far as we're aware no Tudor Square trader was offered a pitch."

Miss Gottwaltz was also concerned that the event already led to people drinking outside public houses.

"While they were not doing anything wrong, crowds of people standing outside the pubs did intimidate families," she commented. "We've had enough problems with stag and hen parties, without more families being put off by seeing crowds standing outside pubs. It's different from people sitting at tables outside cafés and restaurants."

While she did not want to stop next year's planned Café Culture event, Miss Gottwaltz asked for the organisers to give more consideration to the town's resident businesses.

"We're the ones paying rates 52 weeks of the year, perhaps they should let us become more involved," she opined.

Chairman of the town's Chamber of Trade and Tourism, Mr. John Cross, whose own business, Rembrandts, is also in Tudor Square, told the Observer that he had spoken to chairman of 2020, Mr. Mike Thorne, following this year's Café Culture event.

"I did point out to him that the event was not successful for the traders in Tudor Square due to the layout of the stalls," he said.

"I think this is where the problem lies, rather than the event itself, and if the stalls had been arranged differently, the results for the traders in the Square could have been different.

"He seemed to take everything I said on board and I am willing to give it one more go," Mr. Cross continued. "If after that it still proves detrimental, we need to think very hard as to whether it continues in the same vein.

"The atmosphere and pleasure it brought was obvious, but the summer season's trading days are vital to the health of the businesses in the Square and we can't afford to be too liberal to outsiders and competitors.

"As an experiment to see how Tenby would be with tables outside the cafés and restaurants, it was a success and I'm all for it," Mr. Cross continued. "In fact, I'd like to see that all summer.

"As an experiment, it was also good from a traffic point of view, proving that pedestrianisation of the Square - which I am personally in favour of - can be enjoyable and pleasurable, which is a step in the right direction.

"In principle, to create a continental style atmosphere, I think it works, but I think the principle needs refining so that everyone is happy. I think the problems can be worked out."

Chairman of Tenby 2020, Mr. Mike Thorne said: "Obviously we are very concerned to hear about any trader losing money during our Café Culture day last year despite the sunshine and large crowds.

"It is possible the layout of the stalls in the Square had a detrimental effect on some of the surrounding shops and, if we are to arrange another event next year, we will change the layout.

"We do need the stalls to raise an income to cover the costs and we welcome any concerned business along to our next Café Culture planning meeting which is to be held at the Tenby House Hotel next Monday (November 19) at 6 pm."