Sir,

There will be public consultation events about a proposed Pembroke and Pembroke Dock regeneration framework on October 31 and November 1. I will be attending to suggest that the framework includes the well established principle of using Maritime Heritage as a vehicle for regeneration.

Five years ago there was a two-day international conference in Cardiff Town Hall where delegates from Mystic Seaport, Connecticut, USA Brisbane, Australia, Cape Town, South Africa, and many smaller towns, came and told us how successful they had been in regenerating the run-down docks areas of their towns by encouraging Maritime Heritage, which resulted in a healthy tourism industry. They said it was not expensive, but the main requirement was the positive support of their local authorities through inclusion in regeneration plans.

I am not suggesting that Pembroke and Pembroke Dock could rival the successful Liverpool Waterfront, London Docklands or Cardiff, but we have many rundown sites that have excellent heritage potential.

I have vested interest in that I am chairperson of West Wales Maritime Heritage Society in Front Street, Pembroke Dock. Our volunteer group is renovating Hancock’s Yard and opens our small museum to the public for four days a week during the tourist season. In this our third year, we had 1,200 visitors who contributed to the local economy. Next year the Tenby Lugger will join our fleet and we will do even more.

Please attend the consultations if you are interested and contribute your opinions.

Brian King,

Chairperson,

WWMHS.