Sir,

I have some sympathy with the frustrations expressed by the anonymous writer of the letter published last week on the subject of the Gatehouse saga, and I entirely agree that the present situation with the pavement and hoardings is unacceptable. But he was aiming at the wrong target. 

Tenby Town Council can only lobby for action on the Gatehouse site; it has no powers to take action. The powers to act reside with the planning authority (Pembrokeshire Coast National Park) and the highway authority (Pembrokeshire County Council), and ultimately with the Welsh Assembly Government.

The town council has never been smug about any lobbying it has done, it has frequently expressed frustration over the lack of action, and it has been persistent in pressing the authorities to act.

In respect of the footpath, the first response from the authorities was that it was not practical to re-open the footpath as there were cellars and voids beneath that would make it liable to collapse.

This story was maintained despite the fact that there had been a footpath on that land for many years, and the adjacent carriageway appeared capable of supporting heavy goods vehicles.

Then the story changed, with the authorities saying it was unreasonable for the pavement to be reconstructed when it would all have to be done again when the site was redeveloped. This story was maintained despite the fact that there was no planning permission for redevelopment, and no immediate prospect of permission being granted.

But the town council, the chamber of trade and tourism and others kept up the pressure for action to be taken, and finally, a few weeks ago, the authorities did reach an agreement with the landowner, having finally recognised that there was a serious issue of public safety and amenity here. The agreement, as I understand it, was for the landowner to do various works, including re-opening the footpath, by the end of July.

Disappointingly, the works have not been done, the latest in a whole string of disappointments on this site. Now the problem must again be considered by the authorities, perhaps to take direct action themselves, and recover the costs from the landowner, which they have the power to do.

But remember there may be legitimate reasons for delay and there are always rights of appeal which can quite properly be exercised. I fear this saga will run and run for quite some time yet.

Mike Thorne,

Narberth Road,

Tenby