Sir,
'Ello, 'ello, 'ello, wot's going on 'ere then?"
Well bearing in mind the festive season, we'll kick off in panto for the latest Christmas cracker to come from the collective Baron Hardups up at Hardup Hall, Haverfordwest.
Their latest wheeze, sorry service, is to tackle, full bore, problem parking in order to keep Pembrokeshire special and improve the quality of our everyday lives. It is not a cash raising venture and I don't believe a word of it!
Do we need safe parking? Of course we do, but this lot up at Hardups are creating an empire and turning it into an industry and many believe the consequences for Tenby could be catastrophic.
All that extra yellow paint that was slapped around the town some years ago is about to pay off big time.
The Hardups, having failed to come up with any attractive parking scheme to get people to shop in the town, have just given up. Shame on them! Tenby deserves better.
Do you know, I have never come across a more caring and giving town which, along with surrounding areas, has so many people tirelessly raising money for good causes and charity. The list of charities is long, but I do think some fund-raising endeavours could be put under pressure by the Hardup Mob and their enforcers.
How is it we can go to other parts of the UK where they do have parking provision that does attract people to shop in small towns, i.e. very many give free parking every day up to 11 am. I note in Haverfordwest there is some free parking all day.
In Tenby, do tell me, why have they not sought some deal with the owners of the now empty old garage site? Perhaps, too, they might seek some accommodation at the Rectory car park?
So, tell me again, is this just a lack of care on their part, or have they, like so many councils before them, had their judgement impaired by what seems, to them, to be a good money-making scheme?
Have they then forgotten that they should be there for us all, not for themselves - they should be acting as a part of the community, not apart from it.
Finally, their enforcement team, they tell us comfortingly, will be calling back at all hours to ensure the success of the enterprise. You bet they will.
Now for the icing on the cake, they are applying to the Welsh Assembly for, wait for it - wheel-clamping powers! Well now, what a blessing it is to know the future of our town and our well-being is in such capable and caring hands, but somehow I can't help feeling that with friends like these, who needs enemies!
Happy New February 1 folks.
Ken Fryer,
7 Seascape,
Tenby.