A plan to build a pavement on the Clicketts side of Tenby's Marsh Road was branded a waste of money by town councillors this week.
As part of the National Assembly funded Safe Routes to School scheme, Pembrokeshire County Council are proposing to build a footpath from Penally on the Leisure Centre side of the Marsh Road.
However, at an earlier meeting this year, town councillors felt that a 'splitter' island near Kiln Park would be more beneficial as school children tended to use the existing footpath on the other side of the road.
At Tuesday night's meeting of the town council, Clr. Mickey Folland explained that he had met county highways officers on site to discuss this option, but it had not been looked on favourably.
Clr. Folland explained, however, that county highways had agreed with the town council's concerns over the Clicketts junction and would improve signage and cut back trees to improve visibility.
However, news that the county council still intended to build a new pavement disappointed Deputy Mayor, Clr. Miss Lis James.
She pointed out that children did not use the Clicketts side of the road, as most tended to cross at the existing splitter islands further up the road and use the pavement past 'Bowen's Field' to use the shop at Kiln Park filling station, and she felt that the money could be better spent elsewhere.
"We have been told that there is no money for a Safe Routes to School scheme at St. Teilo's," she commented. "Surely there is a greater need at St. Teilo's than on the Marsh Road.
"What is needed is a splitter island near Kiln Park to help the children to cross back towards Penally safely.
"The county council won't go along with that, but why spend the money on the Marsh Road for the sake of spending it."
She suggested that the county council be asked if the Marsh Road scheme could be dropped in favour of a scheme at St. Teilo's.
"Failing that, surely there are other areas of the county where the money could be better spent," she opined.
Clr. Trevor Hallett agreed that a pavement on the leisure centre side of the road appeared superfluous.
"People will always follow a preferred route," he said. "The preferred route, established over the years, has been to use the existing footpath on the other side of the road.
"What people need is a way of crossing safely from Penally over to Kiln Park, particularly as there is a convenience store at the filling station."
"If the county council are going to cut back trees and improve signage around the Clicketts junction, that would be enough. A new pavement on that side of Marsh Road would be unnecessary expense," agreed Clr. Andrew Rees.
Clr. Folland pointed out that the question was not over whether the money could be used instead for St. Teilo's, but whether the town council approved of the scheme before them.
"Personally, after attending the site meeting, I am in favour of what is being proposed," he said.
Members voted by a 4-2 majority against the scheme.
"It does not mean that the scheme will not go ahead, because the final say lies with the county council," pointed out Clr. Folland.