During a meeting of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority last week, Tenby's County Clr. Michael Williams raised the issue of second homes and the adverse impact they were having on the local economy of the town.
He invited members to join him in walking around the town during the evenings in winter months to experience first-hand the extent of the problem. "The number of properties that are now second homes are seriously damaging the resort, and denying young local people the chance of getting on the property ladder," he claimed.
"Most of the properties that are presently second homes are the type that could be purchased as local homes, in that many are two or three- bedroom terraced houses. One only has to walk along Cresswell Street, St. Mary's Street or Lower Frog Street to understand the problem. In Culver Park there are 11 properties that are now second homes, and this is an area outside the usual high demand area which is within the town walls."
Clr. Williams proposed that the planning authority urgently consider the issue of second homes, and this was accepted. A meeting would be convened in the near future of officers and members to consider the situation, and to explore how existing or new planning legislation could be used to address the problem.
Following the meeting, Clr. Williams said: "The problem is recognised by everyone, but hand- wringing is not enough. The housing situation in Tenby is now at crisis point, with young locals being put in an impossible position. I intend exploring every avenue in an attempt to help our future generations, and this includes trying to persuade the Welsh Assembly Government to give local authorities the means to compulsory purchase second homes in areas where the housing situation is dire.
"An initiative such as this would certainly help a town like Tenby. There is an urgent need for councils to once again be able to offer local people mortgages at preferential rates if they are committed to their local community."