Nearly 20 years after the first attempts to pedestrianise Tenby, the Public Inquiry process, which it is hoped will settle the remaining contentious issues, is about to start. It has been announced that a pre-inquiry meeting will take place next Tuesday at 10 am in the De Valence Pavilion. This will be followed by the Public Inquiry hearings that are due to begin on April 24. This will also be held at the De Valence and could last for up to three days. A Public Inquiry became obligatory under the regulations when Pembrokeshire County Council received a number of objections to its Permanent Order to pedestrianise Tenby. Those residents and businesses who objected have since received letters from the Planning Inspectorate in Cardiff advising them of arrangements for Tuesday's pre-inquiry hearing. The letter states that this meeting will constitute the first stage of the inquiry and that it will give the Inspector, Mr. E. W. Jones, and all the parties involved the chance to agree on procedural and administrative arrangements. The letter also explains that no evidence or detail of the objections will be heard at this first meeting as its sole purpose is to help all parties to prepare for the actual inquiry and to ensure that this will run as effectively as possible. The letter advises that only those who want to speak at the Public Inquiry in April need to attend this pre-inquiry meeting, although there will be provisions for those unable to attend on Tuesday to also speak in April. The Planning Inspectorate has also stated that next Tuesday's meeting will be public, so anyone may attend. The published agenda for the pre-inquiry meeting lists items to identify the participants in the Public Inquiry, to agree the inquiry procedures and to establish the main issues in dispute. The meeting will also allow the Inspector to learn the nature of the proposed evidence that will be produced so that a timetable for submissions and the co-ordination and availability of documents can be agreed upon.
