As we went to press yesterday (Thursday) afternoon, the public inquiry into Tenby's controversial pedestrianisation scheme was still proceeding. The inquiry was already into its fourth day and was expected to continue today (Friday). At the outset, Pembrokeshire County Council expressed the view that if a permanent ban on traffic during peak times throughout July and August wasn't maintained, then the potential was there for the popular seaside resort to become a 'no-go area' for tourists. Held at the town's De Valence Pavilion, the inquiry, conducted by planning inspector, Mr. Clive Nield, who was appointed by Pembrokeshire County Council, has given the chance to various organisations, businesses and individual residents to put forward their arguments for and against the controversial traffic scheme. Members of Pembrokeshire County Council's transportation department were also present to give evidence as to why they believed the scheme should become permanent. The council has implemented the ban on an experimental basis since 2002, with the scheme in its current form seeing traffic banned from entering the walled town between 11 am and 5 pm during the busy months of July and August. Council officers believe the scheme makes the resort safer for people to enjoy and creates a café culture and a relaxing, pleasant atmosphere, with the population in the area over the summer period increasing from 5,000 to 50,000. After the county council advertised its intention to make the scheme a permanent fixture, 63 letters of objection were received, forcing the hearing this week. However, groups such as the Tenby Walled Town Residents Association (TWTRA), who have led the fight against the scheme in its current form, have argued that the access restrictions imposed on residents are too restrictive, and they were seeking unfettered access for vehicles. At present, residents who have off-road parking at one of the 500 homes within the walled town are permitted one in and out journey a day. They are also given concessions at county council run car parks. Other groups on hand to object to the scheme in its current form included Tenby 2020, Tenby Sailing Club, Harbour Users, Caldey Island Estate Company and also Tenby Town Council. Representatives from businesses such as estate agents Frank B. Mason and Charles Birt, as well as Tenby House Hotel, were also present to give their views against the scheme, while representatives the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority and Chamber of Trade attended to speak in favour of the scheme. Opening the inquiry, planning inspector Mr. Nield said: "It seems to me that almost everyone supports the pedestrianisation scheme in principle, but the crux of this inquiry is to determine whether the correct balance has been struck to satisfy the residents and businesses that have been inconvenienced by the restrictions the ban has put on them." Pembrokeshire County Council's director of transport and environment, Mr. Ian Westley, was one of the first witnesses called to give evidence in favour of the scheme. Mr. Westley admitted, however, that it was unlikely that a scheme could be found to satisfy everyone affected by the ban, explaining that councils had experienced dealing with traffic problems within Tenby since the 1960s. "It's certainly not our intention to impart hardship in any way on people who work and live within the town, we're simply striving to find some common ground that will suit everyone's requirements. Whatever the outcome of this inquiry, though, it's highly unlikely that we will come up with a perfect solution to satisfy everyone," he explained. "We do believe, though, that we need a permanent scheme and foundation so we can build on what's already in place and make any improvements that are required," he added. The county council's senior traffic officer, Mr. Geoff Sutton, remarked that when the scheme was first introduced in 2002, it restricted traffic totally from within the walled town, but since then it had been 'watered down'. He now believed, though, that it was time to come up with permanent guidelines. "I think we're at the point of the straw that breaks the camel's back, and the current scheme is as far as it should go with regards to anymore changes," he said. Mr. Sutton was also satisfied that signage explaining the pedestrianisation scheme to motorists was sufficient, and that access for disabled residents and visitors alike did not cause any extra problems. "Previous schemes have fallen down and failed because of a lack of enforcement, which has caused chaos on the streets," he stressed. However, TWTRA chairman, Mr. Richard Walker, disagreed when putting forward his evidence against the scheme in its current form. Having carried out research on other towns across the UK who run similar pedestrianisation schemes, Mr. Walker explained that he had found nowhere that enforced such excessive restrictions on access for residents. "Even at the Tower of London there is unrestricted vehicle access; they are not incarcerated there like the residents of Tenby are," he said, criticising Pembrokeshire County Council for not looking at precedents set by other places like St. Ives and Looe. Mr. Walker also felt that trade services such as electricians and plumbers had experienced difficulties in obtaining authorisation for access into the town to carry out work. "Residents and workers have put up with the inconveniences caused by the scheme, but hardships should not be accepted; we'd all welcome a more fluent and flexible approach from the county council," he added. TWTRA secretary, Mr. Alistair Mckay, revealed his fears for the town's residents should the scheme as it is remain the same. "Full-time residents are the key elements to a town such as Tenby, so my fear is that they will slowly move out because of these restrictions, leaving an empty holiday resort, a kind of second home shell," he remarked. Inquiry inspector, Mr. Nield, is expected to announce his decision by early June, ahead of this year's proposed scheme.
