Pembrokeshire County Council are being urged to consider funding towards the provision of more RNLI lifeguards to patrol Tenby’s beaches.

County councillor for Tenby’s North ward, Cllr Michael Williams has sent correspondence to the Local Authority’s public realm manager and chief executive on the matter, following a number of water and coastal related incidents around the seaside town over the busy May Bank Holiday, with droves of visitors descending to coastal locations, due to the mini heatwave.

“After this weekend and the number of reported water safety incidents I believe that Pembrokeshire County Council should contribute to the funding the provision of Lifeguards from pre the Whitsun holiday,” stated Cllr Williams.

“I do understand that this weather is not regarded as normal but looking at weather trends, it appears likely that high temperatures are becoming more frequent and emphasises the need for the presence of Lifeguards on our coast.

“I am very aware of the cost implications, but the risk to human life given high temperatures and water that is still very cold should be taken into account.

“I would appreciate your thoughts on this issue as this must be the time to investigate the cost implications and safety benefits of putting this provision in place before next spring,” he added.

After May half term, Tenby’s South Beach will be lifeguarded full time, 7 days a week, between 10am and 6pm for the remainder of the 2026 season, but RNLI lifeguards aren’t due to patrol the busy North Beach until the summer holidays kick-in.

It is estimated that 48.97M people will be heading to the coast or open water at least once over the summer.

For the last 25 years, RNLI lifeguards have been making beaches safer across the UK. They share safety advice, provide first aid to those who need it and save the lives of those who get in trouble in the water.

During that time, they have made more than 48 million preventative actions, attended more than 330,000 incidents and aided more than 440,000 people on beaches around the UK and the Channel Islands.

Last year in Wales, RNLI beach lifeguards saved 28 lives and aided a further 5,507 people.

Tenby RNLI lifeboat volunteers had a hectic Bank Holiday with six launches on the Sunday of May 24 alone, providing rescue operations throughout the day.

Both the all-weather and inshore lifeboats were launched at around 9.15am after a report that a kayaker hadn’t returned to the Llansteffan area after launching the evening before.

Following the morning shout, both Tenby lifeboats were again requested to launch, this time at 9.40pm, after several people were reported to possibly need assistance on the rocks at Manorbier.

As the inshore lifeboat was passing Lydstep, they were tasked to investigate lights on the cliffs in Lydstep bay.

The final shout of the day came for the inshore lifeboat shortly before 11pm, after a 7.1 metre rib reported engine failure off Old Castle Head, near Manorbier.