Over 50 people met on Wednesday for the inaugural meeting of the ‘plastic-free Tenby’ initiative.

Following discussion at Tenby Town Council, a meeting was held at Caffi Pura alongside the De Valence Pavilion, calling for individuals, organisations and businesses to get involved who want to reduce the use of the single-use plastics that are causing so much pollution in our seas and on our beaches.

Cornish town, Penzance recently become the first community in the UK to be awarded ‘plastic-free’ status after dozens of residents and business owners backed the scheme run by the marine conservation charity.

It is estimated that around three million pieces of plastic enter the sea every day worldwide, with plastics having a catastrophic effect on the livelihood of marine creatures, entangling them, choking them, and drowning them, but it is the fact that plastic doesn’t biodegrade; instead it breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces that is causing the most worry among scientists.

Recent reports suggest that by 2050, there will be more pieces of plastic in the oceans than fish.

The meeting in Tenby heard about the Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) led Plastic Free Coastlines scheme and how Tenby can become accredited as a plastic-free town.

This will involve organising beach cleans, businesses swapping single-use plastics for more sustainable alternatives, and establishing a local steering group.

The meeting heard from Zoe Abbott of Keep Wales Tidy, Gareth Davies from Business Wales and Anna Strzelecki from Surfers Against Sewage about various assistance, advice and initiatives that are available.

Clr. Mrs. Sam Skyrme-Blackhall told the meeting that there will be a big beach clean organised in Tenby for half-term on February 17 or 18, with further details to be announced shortly.

Another meeting will be held in March and details will be announced on the initiative’s new Facebook page at www.facebook.com/plasticfreetenby

You can also follow the ‘Surfers Against Sewage Beach Cleaning South Pembrokeshire’ group on Facebook for more information on events in the area.