Fresh calls have been made for Pembrokeshire County Council to look at Tenby’s neglected harbour sluice.

In recent years the uses of the sluice have changed and the facility is currently practically inaccessible.

At the May 30 meeting of PCC’s Strategic Asset Management Group, county councillor for the seaside town’s North Ward, Cllr Michael Williams requested that a review of the future of the sluice at Tenby harbour be made, with a re-examination of the possibility of bringing it back into use.

At the committe meeting Cllr Williams raised the ongoing ‘decay and neglect’ of the sluice area, reminding the cabinet member that the last attempt to bring the sluice area into some viable use involved the installation of a sluice gate which would offer controlled access for visiting as well as local vessels. The cabinet member agreed to re-examine the situation and report back.

“Unfortunately the actual returned estimate for these works considerably exceeded Pembrokeshire County Council’s cost ceiling, and was not progressed,” remarked Cllr Williams.

“The council have both a legal and moral duty to protect and enhance what is an historical listed building.”

At the same meeting, Cllr Wiliams also requested a report to the next meeting of the group on the old Greenhill school, over it's semi derelict appearance and future use.

Works to make the sluice more 'user-friendly' were given the thumbs up by local councillors prior to Covid, after being told of an application from Pembrokeshire County Council for the replacement of stop logs with sluice control, which would ‘protect and enhance’ the area, as well as sustaining activities; improve the amenity of the harbour, and sustain local employment opportunities.

It had been revealed back in 2019 that the Local Authority was earmarked to receive £128,000 to carry out improvements to the sluice, after the Welsh Government’s deputy minister for culture, sport and tourism, announced that grant funding for the facility as part of a £2.2 million outlay for 23 projects across Wales, to improve the visitor experience and develop ‘high quality’ destinations.

However, funding for the project seemingly slipped through the net, and the plans never came to fruition.

The proposals put forward at the time were seen as a way to extend the operating season and create a year-round harbour excursion offer.

Tenby Civic Society’s planning committee welcomed such plans at the time, stating: “The proposal and principle of protecting boats in the sluice during wild weather is welcome, as are the main design features.

“This will give the sluice a new value and contribute to the working life of the harbour - an important policy area for Tenby in the Local Development Plan, and retain popular activities like crabbing in the sluice.”

Plans for the sluice gate were revisited again last year at a meeting of Tenby Harbour User's Association, with the chair of the group stating that he would provide PCC with all relevant paperwork to start the process of looking for new sources of funding to pursue.