Sir,

I was very disturbed to read of the proposed traffic plans for Tenby for the 2003 summer season.

As one of the few residents in the harbour area, I am very concerned about the access to my home during this period. I put up with this year's plan as the hours, although inconvenient, were not too bad; anything is worth a try.

Much has been said on the matter and one or two suggestions have been hopeful, e.g. the colour-coded permit idea suggested by Clr. Mickey Folland and supported by Clr. Michael Williams to run alongside the pedestrianisation scheme is very much worth considering. However, suggested two-way traffic through Crackwell Street as per letter in the Tenby Observer of December 13, although better than nothing, could cause difficulty due to the distance involved from point to point.

In the long term I feel that wider pavements with short-term parking bays and one-way single file through traffic at a slow speed could work. Most jams are caused by vehicles double parking, and others trying to get to the harbour car park finding it full and having to turn back against the traffic. I believe traffic to the harbour area should be for users, residents and disabled only.

As there are many holiday apartments in the area, how are visitors going to react to being told they cannot access their property until after 5 pm, following a sometimes gruelling and tiring journey from long distances. Not very well I think, and there is a great possibility of loss of trade.

It is a contravention of the human rights to forcibly deny residents vehicle access to their homes for such long periods of time and I am considering looking into the matter with the European Court of Human Rights if some sort of compromise cannot be reached.

The recent traffic survey was loaded, in my opinion. Although I agreed that it was nice to have clear streets, I did not agree with the complete traffic ban.

Residents are not thought of or compensated in any way by the powers that be in these matters. However, if we were to withhold our council tax there would be immediate court action - it does make one wonder.

Let's please have more consultation and less draconian rules forced upon us.

David S. Rees,

3 Seamen's Rooms,

Penniless Cove Hill,

Tenby.