Tenby's historic St. Margaret's Fair will not be held this July, members of the town council agreed this week.

Councillors have decided to suspend the ancient charter fair this year as it "has become an embarrassment to the town."

Instead they will meet with market traders and the Showmen's Guild with a view to raising the standard of the fair next year.

The first charter fair was held in the 17th century. Originally located in South Parade, it later moved to Butts Field car park and, more recently, The Salterns car park.

"Over recent years, the fair has become an embarrassment to the town," the Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Christine Brown, commented at Tuesday night's meeting of the council.

"Every year it is getting smaller and smaller because there are so many other fairs and markets in the area during the summer," she continued.

"Also, I believe last year's fair resulted in complaints from the neighbouring caravan site on The Salterns.

"I propose that we do not go ahead with the fair this year and, over the next 12 months, look at ways of trying to revive its profile to try and get something like the fairs of old used to be."

Clr. Mrs. Brown said that the old fairs used to be 'selling fairs' and wondered if a way forward was to try and make the charter fair follow similar lines to the craft and antique fair idea currently being followed up by Clr. Mrs. Caroline Thomas.

"I raised the very issue of the future of the fair at the end of last year's fair," commented Clr. Mickey Folland. "I felt it was up to the people of the town to decide as this was an historic charter fair and would mean the end of many years of tradition.

"I don't think we could cancel the fair this year as the showmen and traders will already have it in their diaries, but we certainly don't reap the benefits of the fair like we used to.

"We need to meet with the traders and showmen to see how we can upgrade the fair.

"If there are no ideas forthcoming, then next year we can call time on it.

"It would be a shame to stop a charter fair, but at the moment it's not doing Tenby any favours at all."

Clr. Stuart Fecci saw 'no reason' why the fair could not be suspended this year.

"The precedent has been set in the past," he pointed out.

"I have to support Clr. Mrs. Brown, the fair as it stands is an embarrassment, it is doing the town no good and is costing this council money.

"Perhaps we could meet with the showmen to see if we cannot make it a more historical fair, with old-fashioned steam powered rides," he suggested.

Clr. Mrs. Caroline Thomas agreed.

"Let us suspend the fair this year and investigate the possibilities of making it a Victorian fair," she said.