Progress on making Tenby a ‘dementia friendly’ town has gathered much momentum, town councillors heard this week.

Speaking at Tuesday night’s meeting of the town council, Clr. Mrs. Samantha Skyrme-Blackhall, told her colleagues that a further meeting of the Dementia Friendly Tenby group had taken place the week before, and had proved very positive with some very good feedback discussed.

“Myself and Clr Mrs. Tracey Evans recently went out again to speak to traders in the town and spent three-and-a-half hours talking to business owners, with some very good feedback given,” said Clr. Mrs. Skyrme-Blackhall, adding that many business owners had attended the meeting last month stating that they would ‘come on board’ with the plans to make the town more dementia friendly

“We’re on our way now, but variation is important, as there are so many traders providing different services in the town.

Mrs. Skyrme-Blackhall said that all the businesses that attended indicated that they were keen to purchase more more welcoming doormats replacing black mats to show that they are a dementia friendly establishment, and that there were proposals in places to move away from white toilet seats in disabled facilities to coloured ones - another factor which can make a difference. Businesses that were on board can also display badges in the window of their premises to show that they are dementia friendly.

Traders have been told about ways that they can become a ‘dementia friend’ also, so that anyone entering their premises, know there is someone they can go to for help, signified with a badge.

“An Alzheimer’s correspondent has advised us that we can make this happen for the town, and get Tenby a dementia friendly status - which is what we are going to achieve!” she continued.

A PAVS (Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services) representative will be at the next meeting of the ‘Dementia Friendly Tenby’ group which will take place at the Mayor’s Parlour at the De Valence Pavilion in Tenby on Wednesday (March 11) at 6 pm.