The debate on the future of one of Tenby's controversial noticeboards took another twist this week, when the person who created the sculptures claimed he still hadn't been paid for the work.

One of the boards, which features two figures holding a glass display case, had upset many locals and town councillors, as they believed it was more of an eyesore blocking one of Tenby's picturesque views of the harbour from The Norton where it was sited.

The noticeboard in question, originally a joint project of the Tenby Events Management team of the De Valence Trust and Tenby Chamber of Trade and Tourism, was recently removed from the location, after measures taken by the town council.

The other board is located in South Parade.

Now, one councillor says the the person who was commissioned to create the noticeboards, a Mr. Toby Peterson, has contacted her to say that he is still owed money for the work and wants back the one that has been removed.

The town clerk, however, told members at Tuesday night's meeting of the council, that he had made enquiries with the liquidators who had sorted out the De Valence Trust's assets after the organisation went into liquidation last year, and they revealed that the boards were legally an asset of the Trust, and that the creator had failed to put in an ownership claim before the Trust had ceased to be.

"I accept we have no legal obligation to give this board back to this gentleman, but morally I think the previous Trust of the De Valence treated him rather shabbily and have left him out of pocket for his work," said Clr. Mrs. Trisha Putwain, who said she had been contacted by Mr. Peterson.

"I think it would be a nice gesture if we let him have the one that's been removed.

"An awful lot of people in the town don't like the noticeboard and are glad to see the back of it and we ourselves have fought long and hard to get it removed from the Croft and Norton. If we look into re-siting it again, it's just going to cost this council even more expense again," she added.

Clr. Mrs. Christine Brown said that, despite interest from some of the local schools in having the noticeboard, no decision had been taken by the council as to what to do with it yet, and she for one liked the board and could think of plenty of places to re-site it.

Clr. Mike Evans also said that Tenby Chamber of Trade and Tourism had expressed an interest in having the noticeboard so that they could keep the amenity within the town.

"The schools are keen to have the board and no doubt plenty of other organisations would want it too. It's a valuable asset for the town that the town council has paid for indirectly, 10 times over.

"We should retain it until we decide what is best for it," remarked Clr. Evans.

Clr. Mrs. Julie Evans said that she felt it was just the location of the board that councillors hadn't taken a liking to, not the actual design of it, while Clr. Lawrence Blackhall commented that it was ironic that something that was so reviled, was now in such demand.