Contractors have been praised for their hard work under ‘extremely challenging conditions’ - in wrapping up ‘Active Travel’ works in the centre of Saundersfoot, in time for the Easter Holidays - with a local county councillor stating that the enhancements have made the seaside village a ‘safer, more accessible environment for everyone’ - whether walking, cycling or driving through.

Many have criticised the need for the work along Cambrian Terrace, as part of the seaside village’s ongoing ‘Active Travel’ scheme administered by Pembrokeshire County Council - with the introduction of a cycle lane for the centre of the seaside village, and the removal of some disabled bays, in particular, facing a backlash, with critics stating that it hinders access for disabled residents and visitors.

County councillor for Saundersfoot’s South Ward, Cllr Chris Williams stated: “Following a challenging 12-week period of works within Saundersfoot, I would like to take this opportunity to thank residents and business owners for their patience, understanding, and continued support throughout.

“The works, particularly during the difficult weather conditions in January and February, have inevitably caused disruption. I fully recognise the frustrations experienced, especially in relation to movement around the village and the temporary loss of parking on Cambrian Terrace, which is vital to both residents and local businesses.

Over recent months, Cllr Williams said that he’s attended numerous meetings and held many conversations with members of the community; and while there have been concerns, he said that the ‘overwhelming majority’ have supported the need for enhancement, improved safety, better accessibility in the centre of the village, as indicated in the consultation process.

“At the heart of these works has been a clear focus on safety and to meet these needs, safer crossing points with improved visibility have been created,” he continued.

“This in turn should reduce vehicle speeds whilst ensuring that pedestrians, cyclists, wheelchair users, and those with limited mobility can move through the village with greater confidence. Importantly, parking remains on Cambrian Terrace, as strongly supported during the consultation process.

“While there has been a reduction in the number of spaces, this has been offset by the introduction of additional parking bays on Milford Street, delivered as part of earlier phases of the scheme.”

He explained that Saundersfoot Harbour have also recently made 8 spaces available as you drive in, which will be a mixture of disabled and 30 minute bays to provide extra parking for residents and its visitors.

“The loading bay on Cambrian Terrace will remain, and I have worked to ensure that both this and the loading bay on Brewery Terrace can support general parking after 10am,” continued Cllr Williams.

“This will provide additional short-stay parking opportunities, particularly for those wishing to stop briefly and support local businesses. A 30-minute parking bay and a disabled parking space will also be available on Cambrian Terrace.

Cllr Williams said that he was also pleased to confirm that longstanding drainage issues on Brewery Terrace have now been addressed, with outlets levelled and improved.

Further work is planned following Easter to replace the pavement area outside the Boathouse on Cambrian Terrace, where persistent surface water has been an issue. This will include improved drainage to prevent future puddling and enhance pedestrian safety.

He commented: “During March, I received a high number of enquiries regarding the new active travel path running parallel to the existing pavement. This was initially constructed with a 50mm height difference, in line with guidance to support those with visual impairments by providing a clear distinction between surfaces.

“While I fully understood the rationale, I shared the concerns raised by residents that this could present a trip hazard.

“Following a site meeting, it was agreed that a revised solution would be implemented, introducing a bevelled edge with a much reduced height difference of between 5mm and 10mm.

“Having now seen this completed, I am confident this represents a far safer and more practical outcome, balancing accessibility for visually impaired users with the need to minimise risk for all pedestrians. I would like to thank residents and business owners for raising this promptly, allowing a swift and positive resolution.”

There has also been discussion around ‘café culture’ along Cambrian Terrace.

“To be clear, there will be no extension of café culture onto the pavements beyond what has previously been in place,” explained Cllr Williams.

“Businesses will continue to operate with the same provision of tables and chairs as in recent years. This reflects the feedback received during earlier consultations, where maintaining parking provision remained a key priority.”

Cllr Williams said that access for all abilities remains central to these improvements, and Cambrian Terrace will continue to be fully accessible.

There will also be opportunities during key events, such as the Saundersfoot Triathlon and Ironman, where temporary road closures could allow businesses to extend outdoor seating and further enhance the atmosphere within the village.

“I have met with many residents and business owners throughout this process, and I would like to sincerely thank them for their time and feedback. Their involvement has been invaluable in helping shape these outcomes,” remarked Cllr Williams

“Now that the main roadworks have finished, the village can begin to return to normality, with the reassurance that safety concerns have been listened to and addressed.

“Saundersfoot is now a safer, more accessible environment for everyone, whether walking, cycling or driving through. In summary, these works have delivered a significant net gain for the village.

“Additional short-term and disabled spaces have been created, dual loading bays extended to accommodate more vehicles, and overall safety and accessibility have been improved, despite the temporary loss of a couple of spaces on Cambrian Terrace. Temporary tarmacking has been installed on pavements, with permanent paving scheduled to be laid after Easter.

“These enhancements have been informed by resident and business feedback and reflect a careful balance between practical needs and long-term improvement of the village environment.

“I would like to thank the contractors, Evan Pritchard, for their hard work under extremely challenging conditions, and I am grateful to all residents and business owners who engaged with the consultation process.

“Your input has been invaluable in shaping a scheme that meets the needs of the community.

“As the village returns to normality, any scheme of this nature, there will be a bedding-in period.

“I remain committed to meeting with anyone who has concerns and to taking forward feedback to ensure that the scheme continues to work effectively for all residents and businesses,” he added.