Tenby councillors are to tell the county council to 'lighten up' on their latest policy that will see the switch-off of certain street lights overnight in the town.

Back in 2008, Pembrokeshire County Council's cabinet agreed to the up-and-coming switch-off where it is proposed that non-core street lighting installations will be extinguished between 12 am and 5.30 am.

The county council is currently finalising the consultation on the proposal which is being introduced in a bid to cut carbon emissions.

It is said that the proposals will not affect town centres where there are late-night facilities such as nightclubs, public houses and food outlets.

Members of Tenby Town Council have written to the county council to voice their concerns about certain streets within the town walls that have been earmarked to be part of the switch-off, as councillors consider them to be busy areas, especially during the holiday season.

However, the county council's head of highways and construction, Darren Thomas, has informed the council that certain routes like Crackwell Street and Lower Frog Street were not considered core areas.

The town clerk, Mr. Andrew Davies, admitted that he was a little surprised that the county council didn't consider Lower Frog Street to meet the core area criteria as it led to a spot where there were two chip shops, a restaurant, kebab shop, the Crown Inn and Royal British Legion Club.

"Lower Frog Street is a main route into the town and also leading to other core areas, so it doesn't make sense at all," said Clr. Trevor Hallett.

Clr. Paul Rapi said he totally disagreed with the county council's decision.

"The message we should send out to the county council is that Tenby doesn't close down at midnight. There should be no debate, the people of the town don't want the lights switched off, simple as that," he said, while Clr. Mrs. Tish Rossiter felt that the authority had already got off to a bad start with their new policy.

"This new scheme by the county council is meant to be an energy saver, but it doesn't bode well when there have been two street lights switched on 24 hours a day throughout the summer. It's been reported to them, but nothing was done," said Clr. Mrs. Tish Rossiter.

Councillors agreed that a letter should be written to the county council again reaffirming their belief that the whole of the walled town should be considered a core area when making a decision on the street lighting switch-off.