Following the recent cold snap, and with the threat of more wintry conditions to come this New Year, councillors in Tenby have asked what provision is in place to make housing estates safe for residents.

As well as reports of members of the public succumbing to slippery conditions on public pavements and roads into the seaside town in December, many carers highlighted issues where it was unsafe for them to access housing estates and homes in the locality, due to a lack of gritting.

With weather getting more extreme, Cllr Tish Rossiter told her fellow members at this month’s meeting of Tenby Town Council that the recent severe frost and icy conditions had prevented many carers getting to patients in places such as Upper Park Hill, with residents also unable to get out of the estate, as Pembrokeshire County Council were unable to reach lots of areas.

She said a grit bin was provided to the Seascape estate some time ago, and asked if the Council could look at placing more grit bins around the town’s main estates.

The clerk told members that PCC had not supplied grit bins since 2010, with town and community councils having to purchase any at a cost of £180 (plus VAT) as well as making arrangements for the spreading of the salt (with PCC to refill the salt bins as necessary).

He said the Town Council had previously purchased two bins, one situated in Lamack Vale and one at Seascape. However, he continued, that the bin at Seascape had been used so little, that the grit salt at solidified!

Cllr Charles Dale told members that he had had a conversation with the landlords of the The Evergreen inn who had said that if a bin was placed on the bottom of St John’s Hill, then they would be happy to spread the grit salt when needed, on the pedestrian footpath from The Glebe.

The Mayor, Cllr Sam Skyrme-Blackhall told councillors that back in December, when there was severe icy conditions across the town and county, she had contacted PCC as she was aware that some carers couldn’t access patients.

She said that she had sympathy, as she felt PCC’s teams were doing a very hard job in difficult circumstances at the time. She asked if the Town Council’s community engagement officer could look into the possibility of obtaining grant funding for purchasing more grit bins for the main estates across Tenby.

Cllr Laurence Blackhall supported the proposal, and said that the Town Council would need to look at strategic locations for the placement of bins, as he felt at least eight were needed, but some larger estates may need more than one.

“If we do provide the bins, this is where the community aspect comes in, because each bin will require a responsible resident with a key for the bin,” explained the Mayor.

Cllr Sue Lane proposed that any review also considers sheltered housing estates such as Augustus Place.

Cllr Blackhall proposed identifying an initial budget of £2,000 to invest in bins.

Cllr Charles Dale said that he had heard that the pavements on the streets of Haverfordwest had been gritted during the cold snap, and asked if the local authority could confirm if there was any truth to this.