Tenby Walled Town Residents Association this week reiterated a request for a loosening of the access restrictions imposed during this summer's pedestrianisation scheme.
Richard Walker, chairman of TWTRA, commented: "Pembrokeshire County Council's (PCC) scheme for this year is more than twice the size of last year's experiment. The overwhelming feeling of our members is that the PCC have failed to address properly the problems of last year and this year even more problems will surface.
"At the Sounding Group meeting at the end of February there was much talk of the success of Ken Livingstone's Congestion Charge for Central London. At least that system recognises the rights of residents.
"Apparently there's the suggestion that we'll get the cameras (that log number plates), but few concessions. We just hope that visitors who fail to read the warning signs aren't deterred from re-visiting when they get home to find a fixed penalty fine notice on the doormat.
"Our members are increasingly worried also about how the scheme will change the balance of businesses in the town. This, of course, affects all Tenby's residents, not just our members.
"We've recently had it in writing from PCC that Huw Roberts, the architect of the scheme, has no experience of a pedestrianisation scheme where local businesses lose money. Which is what happened last summer. So we are in unchartered territory here. Do PCC want a town where there are only seasonal businesses? We don't know, but their cavalier attitude could be read as uncaring."
The association has written to PCC outlining all their suggestions and objections to PCC's draft proposals.
Vice-chairman of TWTRA, Alistair Mackay, commented: "Pedestrianisation was promoted as a 'Safety and Traffic Management' scheme. Now it seems to be more about what restrictions are needed to accommodate tables and chairs on the streets, so that funds can be attracted from WDA and WTB for long overdue investment in Tenby.
"It's vital that this funding is secured for the town's long-term prosperity. Equally important is that the form of pedestrianisation that is introduced is a success. Failure, bad publicity or protests may jeopardise grant offers. One of the criteria of success must be if the residents of the walled town can live with it."
Copies of the association's submission are available on request from the secretary at 2 Rock House, St. Julian's Street, Tenby, or via e-mail on [email protected]">[email protected].
Richard Walker added: "The one piece of good news this week is that almost all local groups are now singing from the same song sheet. Tenby 2020 have now opposed the extension of days and hours for this summer's scheme. They, like we, remain in favour of some form of pedestrianisation. But now Tenby 2020, TWTRA, The Caldey Estate, the Harbour Users' Group, the Sailing Club and the town's Commercial Ratepayers' Group are all against the draconian way in which PCC is implementing its scheme. And if these groups are saying one thing and PCC is saying another, what is the PCC doing?