ir,

I am writing to you in response to the dreadful proposals and statements made at Tenby Town Council regarding the sluice in Tenby Harbour.

One of the statements read as follows: "If the sluice was no longer needed then it might be more beneficial to cover it up with decking so that better use could be made of that area of the harbour."

A previous statement was made saying that the sluice should be 'filled in'. These two statements contradict themselves, but neither would be achievable.

Firstly, the cost to cover the sluice would be astronomical and a complete waste of funding. If this were to happen, the space would not be well utilised; it would become a place to store weathered and broken fishing gear such as pots and nets. The space would also become a place for Tenby Sailing Club to store dinghies and prepare them to sail. Is this not what the North Walk developments were made for, a place to store and prepare sailing dinghies. Maybe if the North Walk was maintained correctly, then they wouldn't be complaining that there is no space for them to store their dinghies.

There is also another concern raised by saying it should be covered: who is going to maintain this?

Secondly, filling in the sluice is also not an option as, for one, it is listed. For those who say that the sluice is a waste of space, they do not understand the important role it plays within the harbour and North Bay. The sluice is a natural filter; this means that any debris or rubbish floating around the harbour is naturally taken into the sluice by the flow of water created by the incoming tide. Without this natural filter, there would be a build up of rubbish and debris left lying around the harbour and over the North Beach.

The sluice also works as a cleanser to the harbour. As the tide begins to go out, the sluice begins to drain, cleaning the sand and moorings in and around the harbour, just like the sluice does in Saundersfoot harbour.

Nobody has asked what the harbour users want, not what the Sailing Club or Sea Cadets want. The best use for the sluice is for it to be updated and repaired, as a main use for the sluice is a place for boats, both commercial and pleasure, to be repaired and stowed. However, many choose not to as there is insufficient protection from the flow of water created on an incoming tide; this water could cause boats to slam against the sluice walls. The only way to stop this from happening is to add and repair the wooden boards situated under the sluice bridge, as stated in a previous letter written by Sarah Jeffreys.

I propose that new boards should be added, as well as sufficient mooring posts and rings. I also propose that sufficient power and water outlets are posted along the sluice wall. Currently there are no power or water facilities. Is this not what we pay a percentage of our harbour dues for, adequate facilities? This would attract boats to stay within the sluice, either for repair or for storage throughout the winter months, or maybe during the summer.

Tenby Harbour User