Tenby's second controversial pedestrianisation scheme has been hailed a success.

Banning all but emergency and authorised vehicles from the walled town between 11 am and 5 pm since the beginning of July, the experimental scheme came to an end on Sunday.

Pembrokeshire County Council cabinet member for transportation and environment, Clr. Brian Hall, said: "Early indications are that the pedestrianisation experiment in Tenby this summer was an outstanding success.

"The council will carry out an extensive consultation over the coming months in order to gauge opinions so that the council's cabinet can decide on future plans.

"During the scheme, the overwhelming majority of the public have been co-operative and have understood what the council aims to achieve.

"There has been a terrific amount of support. The relaxed continental café culture in the walled town appears to have been appreciated by visitors and locals alike.

"The council has at all times sought to minimise any inconvenience during the scheme. Officers have dealt with requests for movement sympathetically and the council has made every effort to be flexible. The council has received just over 800 calls in total and has given 321 authorisations for access.

"The council's park and ride bus service proved particularly popular this year, with just under 3,000 passenger journeys per day during the scheme. This has had a positive impact on traffic congestion.

"Public safety has always been the main objective for this scheme.

"Our colleagues at Dyfed Powys Police have confirmed that the pedestrianisation experiment has made a significant contribution to the reduction in crime in the Tenby area, with shoplifting crime figures in particular having decreased."

Responding to the council's comments, however, leading member of the Tenby Walled Town Residents Association, Richard Walker, described the present scheme as 'repressive'.

He said that the association was looking for a public inquiry into the scheme and to Pembrokeshire County Council for clarification on a number of issues raised by Clr. Hall.

"If, as they say, it is so successful, why do the county council not have it as a permanent order?

"They are already looking to extend it next year and will that be in hours, months and area?

"We want a permanent order with reasonable access for residents, businesses and harbour users," he remarked.

The Observer has also been contacted by local shopkeeper, Nigel Chappel, who was concerned about the statement made by Clr. Hall regarding the reduction in shoplifting crime.

Mr. Chappel pointed out that although reported incidents may have gone down, actual shop thefts had not dropped at all.

"Shopkeepers don't report every minor incident," he stated.