Well over half of businesses who responded to a survey on this summer's pedestrianisation scheme in Tenby want to see the experiment repeated, it has been revealed.
And of the 138 businesses who replied, only 35 were either a pub, café or restaurant.
Pembrokeshire County Council conducted separate surveys of residents and businesses in the Tenby area following the conclusion of the scheme which ran throughout July and August.
They showed that 82 per cent of residents and almost nine out of 10 businesses feel there is a need to improve the current traffic situation in Tenby.
During the experiment, 76 per cent of residents who replied to the questionnaire said they had either visited the town as many times as usual or that the number of their visits had actually increased.
Six out of 10 businesses surveyed felt that their customer numbers either remained the same or increased in number.
Over 60 per cent of residents felt the scheme helped the movement of people around the town while 73 per cent thought it helped create a relaxed atmosphere.
On those residents who filled in the survey, 69 per cent said it helped create a café culture although some concerns were voiced over tables and chairs on the pavements.
Of those who used the Park and Ride facility, 86 per cent of those questioned thought it satisfactory, though 35 per cent of residents found car parking facilities to be unsatisfactory.
The county council's cabinet member of transportation and environment, Clr. Brian Hall, vindicated the Authority's decision to continue with pedestrianisation in Tenby for a second year.
"It appears that most people welcome it during the summer months when traditionally Tenby's streets are choked with traffic," he added.
• A summary of the survey, and the results, can be viewed on the Authority's website: http://www.pembrokshire.gov.uk">www.pembrokshire.gov.uk
Civic Society in favour too
Answers to a questionnaire circulated to members of Tenby Civic Society prepared and analysed by society chairman Harry Gardiner, showed a six to one majority in favour of the pedestrianisation scheme carried out in Tenby's walled town, rating the scheme a success for the town.
Two out of three thought Tenby was more pleasant during the scheme, half thought the times and length of the scheme were just right, but another quarter felt it should run for more weeks and start earlier in the morning.
The park and ride scheme got quite strong approval, though signs guiding visitors to the park and ride car parks were not so good.
Of the choices members expressed for additional traffic measures in Tenby, the most popular were as follows:
• Sixty per cent wanted all loading and parking stopped at bottlenecks (such as High Street 'pinch points' by New Look and Woolworths).
• Sixty per cent wanted lower speed limits inside the walled town
• Fifty per cent wanted parking reduced inside the walled town
• Forty per cent wanted key narrow pavements widened on High Street, White Lion Street and the upper part of Park Road.
• Forty per cent wanted parking charges in the walled town.
• Forty per cent wanted a 10 mph speed limit in the walled town
• Thirty per cent wanted traffic lights at new Lion Street junction with High Street and Upper Frog Street.
Of the above traffic measures, two-thirds of members wanted them to apply for the rest of the year outside the pedestrianisation period, while one third wanted their choices to be used instead of pedestrianisation.
This minority concern was reflected in comments written onto questionnaires by a few members that pedestrianisation was awkward for those living in the walled town.
Answers to a question on whether pedestrianisation was more convenient saw only one out of three saying 'yes' and 'don't knows' jumping to 40 per cent. This reflects the comments the Society made last year, that the county council need to move a bit further to ease harbour users and walled town residents difficulties during the scheme. It also reflects the local view that the town centre is congested and busy with visitors in high season.
Three walled town members questioned had made calls to the Helpline, getting no answer eight times, 10 approvals for vehicle movements during pedestrianisation and six refusals. Though Helpline staff were helpful, they were not always well informed.
One in 10 questionnaires came from the rest of the UK, another one in 10 from the rest of Pembrokeshire, two-thirds from Tenby and one in 20 from the walled town. Sixty per cent were drivers, 60 per cent were pensioners. Slightly more members mainly walk into Tenby than mainly use a vehicle (car, bus or taxi).
Summer pedestrianisation emerges as the traffic measure in Tenby with the most support, but for the rest of the year the county council should also consider lower speed limits, stopping all parking and unloading in bottlenecks and some reduction in parking in the walled town. The views of businesses on this year's scheme and hours are vital before further proposals are made as are the views of harbour users and walled town residents.
Civic Society members opposed the New Hedges superstore and business park JUDP proposal by two to one, but were evenly divided about a park and ride there. Clearly members see traffic and parking as more of a problem and a priority for action around Tenby than a new superstore or business park.