Local councillors say they need more time and information to give feedback on proposed changes to fees and charges at Tenby harbour.

Members of the town council received correspondence at their meeting on Tuesday from Pembrokeshire County Council, informing them that the economy overview and scrutiny committee was undertaking a review of the harbour fees and charges.

The aim of the review is to identify income or savings options for the harbour, and to address the challenge of the Municipal Ports Review 2006 that Tenby harbour, along with the Lower Fishguard harbour, should be self-financing.

With the closing date for responses today (Friday), councillors said they required more time to gain feedback to give their views.

Clr. Will Rossiter said that he had talked to a number of harbour users who had a number of issues with charges at the facility.

"Firstly there are great concerns about paying £35 a year for parking, when there are so many events held in the harbour, that they can't park there anyway, and are asking where the benefits are." he said.

"Moorings disappearing is another way that they are losing money, too, while others have questioned the need for the personnel that work down the harbour. There used to be one harbourmaster, now there is an assistant, too. Is there really need for two?

"The county council are losing money, yet they are paying people to work in the winter when there is very little to do down there this time of year," added Clr. Rossiter.

Clr. Mrs. Christine Brown said that as there were only 12 events licensed to be in the harbour car park a year, 12 days out of 365 days was very little to moan about.

"We personally here in the town council chamber have not had any letters supporting the views that Clr. Rossiter has given, so we can only look at what is on the table in front of us," said Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Sue Lane.

"We need more feedback, though, and need to know more on the costs, as it is unfair for the county council to give us this to respond to by Friday, without seeking the views of harbour users," she continued, calling for a letter to be written to the authority asking for an extension to the consultation period.

Clr. Mrs. Lane also asked if the harbour users committee could be contacted for their feedback.