Sir,

I feel I must reply to the recent letters that are in favour of the pedestrianisation within the town walls of Tenby, as I note that these are largely from those who live outside of this area, who will only benefit from it, as opposed to those who live within the walls, who will receive the greatest impact on their freedom of movement.

I was born and raised inside of the town walls and with the exception of war service and a short spell working away, have lived in Tenby all of my life, as did my mother and father before me.

In these so-called 'Golden Years' of our lives, our lifeline is the use of our car. Now due to the rules of a county council cabinet, whose members do not even live in the Tenby area, we were last year confined within the town walls for 28 hours a week - this year it will be extended to 42 hours.

You may feel that using the word 'confined' to describe our situation is extreme, but my wife and I, who are approaching 80-years-old apiece, have limited mobility (my wife is registered disabled and is unable to walk more than 30-40 yards without needing to stop and rest and I myself have breathing and walking difficulties) and rely on our car to have any independence whatsoever.

As you will be aware, the local doctors and supermarkets are outside of the town walls and our dentist is in Carmarthen, which means that we have only a small window between 9 am and 11 am to visit them or be barred from returning to our home until 5 pm - a wait of six hours.

In reply to my letter, the director of transport, Mr. Roberts, said that should we need to visit the doctors within the restricted period, specific approval would be required for each and every trip by ringing the designated number and we 'may' be given permission to exit and return.

We have even considered selling our home and trying to move a short distance outside, but was informed by a local estate agent that the pedestrianisation would reduce the value of our home. But then again, why should we have to move from our family home of 80 years, where my mother lived until the end of her days and where I planned to do the same?

In Mr. Osborne's letter to the Observer (June 20) he points out that in other walled towns where pedestrianisation is in place successfully, 'permits have been issued to essential car users... and reasonableness had been the successful order of the schemes'. He further states 'In some instances car owners were allowed access to their homes, but always subject to the pedestrian priority'.

This is all we ask - we are not against pedestrianisation, we too wish for Tenby to be a safe environment for both locals and visitors, but the implementation of this scheme is being thrust upon us without due consideration for all those concerned.

All we want is to have the freedom to come and go from our home as and when is needed, as I'm sure your contributors from last week's Observer who reside at Knowling Mead, Merlins Gardens and St. Florence currently do from their homes.

D. W. Griffiths,

Vine Cottage,

St Mary's Street,

Tenby.