Sir, Tenby seems set to have a pedestrianised town centre as a permanent feature from 2006 onwards. I see a Permanent Order to pedestrianise Tenby has just been published. Of all the pedestrianised towns I am aware of, this scheme will be the only one to deny residents access to their homes. Not for a short time either; the council proposes to ban residents from accessing their homes by car between 11 am and 5 pm every day during July and August. I can imagine the outrage that this would cause if it was introduced in residential areas in Cardiff or Swansea! True there are exceptions, for health and safety reasons and the minority who have the benefit of off-street parking entry will be allowed one return journey a day. Pedestrianisation is good for Tenby's tourist industry; however, I believe that residents are also good for Tenby. Residents should be looked upon as a valuable asset to the town. We are the unpaid tourist workers who help to make Tenby a place where visitors wish to come. I live in the harbour area where many properties are now owned by people from away who rent them out for short-term holiday let. The permanent residents of the harbour in the summer months sweep the pavements in front of their houses, remove litter and put out an abundance of flowers which are photographed and appreciated by the tourists. We spend money in the town throughout the year. Yes, we need holiday lets in the town, but if the balance is lost between temporary residents and the permanent community Tenby will suffer, and what is lost will be difficult to regain. Around the harbour area already many permanent residents have gone; the county council should preserve and value the residents that are left. They should not look upon us as an irritant, but work with us to resolve our access problems, not drive us away with unreasonable expectations. I believe the council should find a solution which will satisfy both my needs and the needs of a predestrianisation scheme. Come on Welsh Assembly, come to our aid, don't you think it is about time you stepped in to right the wrongs that have been made.
Gillian Mackay, Tenby.