Town Councillors are set to discuss Tenby’s Avenue Centre in the New Year, after a local resident contacted them voicing their concerns about the future of the facility - one of Pembrokeshire County Council’s centres for vulnerable people and those with a learning disability.

Back in 2016, when the Avenue Centre which is situated on Greenhill Avenue came under threat from closure, the community united to secure its future, with a total of 2,400 people signing a paper petition opposing the centre’s closure, and a further 1,300 signing an online petition.

Over 100 people also joined a number of centre users and carers in attending an open public meeting at Tenby’s De Valence Pavilion along with local county councillors, town councillors, and AMs to respond to Pembrokeshire County Council’s consultation review on the future of the centre.

At this month’s meeting of Tenby Town Council, Cllr Charles Dale told fellow members that he had received a letter from a resident concerned about the future of the Avenue Centre.

At present the Centre was closed for repair and the clients were being provided alternative sessions in Narberth and Pembroke, but these did not always cater to the needs of individual clients in the same way as at the Avenue Centre, Cllr Dale relayed.

“The resident was concerned that this could be a way of closing the Centre permanently,” he added.

The town clerk said that he was aware that the Centre was closed due to a leaking roof, but nothing had been forthcoming from PCC regarding the future of the facility.

Cllr. Laurence Blackhall said he believed PCC were reviewing their whole provision of adult services and he was aware that there were ongoing serious problems with the building that needed to be resolved.

However, with a bit of imagination and funding it could be turned into an excellent ‘community resource’ - he stated.

He felt the matter could go on the agenda for the next meeting allowing councillors to find out more details in the interim.

He would also have a discussion with the Community Engagement Officer as to possible options.

Cllr Duncan Whitehurst agreed that the Town Council needed more information before expressing too strong an opinion.

“It would be nice to know what is happening and what alternative provision there is for clients,” he said.

“If cuts are to be made there are quite often compromises that can be achieved.”

Cllr Dale was happy for the matter to go on the next agenda but felt that the communication flow from teh County Council to the Town Council still needed to be better.

The next meeting of the Town Council will take place on Tuesday, January 2, at the Mayor’s Parlour at 7.30 pm.