Pembrokeshire County Council Cabinet is set to decide on the form pedestrianisation in Tenby will take in 2004 in their meeting next Monday, February 9. The new director of transport and environment, Ian Westley, recommends in his report to cabinet to repeat the 11 am to 5 pm pedestrian scheme from the beginning of July to the end of August by introducing another Experimental Order.
The main difference from last year's experiment will be the introduction of a permit scheme that will allow only those property owners and businesses with off-road parking within the walled town, and some harbour users, to enter and leave once a day.
Alistair Mackay, vice-chairman of Tenby Walled Town Residents Association, commented: "These small concessions do not go far enough to solve the problems identified in previous experiments in 2002 and 2003. They go some way to answer part of our access concerns, but only for those few with off-street parking.
"The result will be divisive and lead to a two-class system, with neighbour watching neighbour as they struggle to carry on with their lives. A holidaymaker who rents a property that has the benefit of off-street parking will be allowed to enter unchallenged while full time residents will be denied access to load or unload items at their properties. Taxis will be prevented from picking up customers and residents will be denied many services taken for granted by everyone else. Will couriers be able to deliver items now that the Town Council has decided not to receive parcels in 2004?"
Mr. Mackay added: "The Welsh Assembly had previously indicated that the use of further experimental orders is inappropriate. It could be argued that an Experimental Order is only being used to avoid the need for a Permanent Order. This is something the council is quite straight about, recommending not to introduce a Permanent Order because 'it would possibly lead to further objections and the possible need for a public inquiry. This would clearly involve a significant investment in terms of cost and time'.
"TWTRA asks the cabinet members to ask Mr. Westley in next Monday's meeting to clarify Paragraph 30 of the Local Authorities Traffic Orders Regulations that state 'Experimental Orders should not be seen as a way of quickly making an order without going through the normal procedures for permanent orders of consultation, consideration of objections and where required the holding of a public inquiry...' The council is clearly doing just that as this year's experiment is virtually the same as last year.
"By dragging its heels, the council has left it too late to hold a public inquiry this year and so has limited its options. There is still no precedent anywhere in the United Kingdom for such draconian restrictions for seven days a week or for two months on residents or businesses. The continued use of Experimental Orders cannot go on for ever; when is the council going to face up to its responsibilities and introduce a Permanent Order and hold the inevitable public inquiry."
Tenby Walled Town Residents will be holding an open meeting on Tuesday, February 10, at 7.30 pm at Church House, Lower Frog Street, to discuss how their members wish to proceed. Neighbourhood Watch schemes are also on the agenda. TWTRA have also been active in consultation meetings concerning the enhancement of the Tudor Square area. Feedback received from their members welcome it and believes it to be a positive step forward in the upgrading of Tenby's image.
FOOTNOTE: When contacted by the Observer, a spokesperson for the county council said they would not be commenting on the matter until after Monday's meeting.