Councillors in Tenby are pleading with business owners blocking the historic town walls with ‘eyesore’ waste bins to remove them for the good of the appearance of the area.

Members of Tenby town council recently criticised Pembrokeshire County Council for appearing to wash their hands of issues surrounding ‘eyesore’ blue bins that are blocking the resort’s historic walls along the South Parade after declaring the matter was ‘not an issue for their Waste Department’, and suggested that businesses responsible for leaving the blue bins against the walls needed to manage their trade waste disposal better, like other outlets in the town do.

At Tuesday night’s meeting of the town council, Clr. Mrs. Sue Lane, who is also chair of the Tenby In Bloom committee, and keeps a keen eye on environmental issues surrounding the town, told her colleagues that the bins were ‘stinking’ and making the South Parade area - one of the main gateways into the seaside town look ‘absolutely disgraceful’.

“They are horrifying if you stand next to them, as they are stinking.

“It’s no good waiting for anyone at PCC to get back to us on it, as we’ll be waiting all summer, and not getting anywhere. I don’t know what we can do, but it’s not good enough, and it’s a big problem for the town.

“They look and smell horrendous. They are not just put out for waste collection times, but allowed to stay there in situ all week. Also, members of the public are using them as well to dispose of their rubbish.

“Many other businesses in town struggle with storage, but they find a way! Why are these businesses responsible for these blue bins any different. Why should it be one rule for one and not the other.

“We’ve been told as a town council that we are in a position to remove any flyposting we see - so are we in a position to remove these bins too?” she added.

The town clerk Andrew Davies reiterated that PCC’s stance all along had been that they didn’t see a problem with the bins being there.

“I have expressed councillors’ concerns to PCC’s ‘waste improvement manager’ Paul Watkins, head of environment and civil contingencies, Richard Brown and also the Authority’s Chief Executive Ian Westley - but am not getting a response,” he said.

“Mr. Watkins has even stated that as far as they’re concerned - they’re not prepared to comment any further on the matter.

“The businesses have pleaded themselves to the town council to try and find somewhere they can store their bins, and asked to use the alleyway by the De Valence, but that would block the fire exit it was explained to them.

“They state that they are not able to take their waste away daily,” added Mr. Davies.

Clr. Mrs. Lane said that Mr. Watkins “should be ashamed”, whilst the Mayor of Tenby, Clr. Tony Brown told his colleagues that PCC were basically ignoring the town council’s pleas.

“PCC don’t seem to want to listen to us - and judging from their stance, I take it that they don’t care about our views on this,” he remarked.

Clr. Mike Evans said that he backed up the town clerk’s actions on the issue and that it came down to an operational matter.

“PCC are in a total difference of opinion to the town council on this, and I’m in total agreement with the town council’s views on the concerns.”

Clr. Laurence Blackhall asked if the town council could write to the businesses involved to plead with them to get the eyesore bins removed.

“If they have Tenby at heart then please, please get these bins removed. We are going into the height of the holiday season and all you can see is stinking bins on the South Parade.

“I would also suggest that we invite PCC’s chief executive and officers responsible for the waste department along to our next meeting to discuss the matter, and keep it on our agenda,” added Clr. Blackhall.