Sir,

I am delighted that the town council have voted to review the extension of festive lighting down St. Julian Street in February. TWTRA has never been against festive lighting, as Clr. Mrs. Tish Rossiter seemed to suggest.

What we were complaining about was the lack of consultation concerning lights put up outside residential properties with permanent infrastructure fixed onto the exterior of listed buildings.

Residents were concerned about getting to sleep and the encouragement of late night revellers being drawn down the street to then urinate or vomit in their doorways. Did anyone consider the aesthetics of placing zig zag lights on a curve? I look forward to the answer to the questions whether permanent fittings should have planning permission and whether the fire brigade agreed to cables across a street where only a turntable ladder from Haverfordwest can be manoeuvred to the top floors in an emergency.

Perhaps the examples of similar lighting problems from the past have been conveniently forgotten? The precedent of commercial and residential premises successfully objecting to an extension of festive lighting on The Esplanade 10 years ago was ignored here.

The fact that the harbour had already been the recipient of festive lighting, but never maintained, was also ignored. St. Julians' Terrace didn't want uplighters and they were turned off.

I said at the council meeting that TWTRA had been misrepresented by Clr. Mrs. Rossiter with her claim that it only represented 'a select few houses at the bottom of St Julian Street'.

We were set up because people living within the walls did not feel that existing bodies gave them a voice in town and county council decisions; this incident proves how right that was.

We have 147 members and they were consulted and asked for opinions. I duly represented these to council. Any representations should be given due weight. Owners inside the walls have to adhere to strict planning controls. Does the council lighting committee feel they are above this? Surely the retort that 'if it was possible they would have been extended down to the harbour and back up Crackwell Street' without consultation is amazing. I want to encourage those interested in an open review to check out Christmas lights now in other towns so that the lighting committee can use others ideas.

I know Malvern and Halesworth, two towns with listed properties and pedestrianised zones, have only white lights in limited areas utilising the present street lighting connections; most are LED lights proclaiming their council's green credentials and limiting light pollution.

If Tenby's lights are to attract shoppers, perhaps they should be turned on earlier when shoppers are about. We should be working together for a common aim.

What I would hope for is encouragement from council when people or organisations take the time to raise issues, rather than trying to prevent or ridicule discussion if anyone has a contrary view. Councillors should represent all opinion, even those they do not personally agree with. Surely we are still allowed to question decisions or has that prerogative been cancelled in Tenby?

Richard Walker, Tenby.