A fight to keep Tenby's Five Arches free from street trading is in the offing, as town councillors believe that the iconic area should be kept free from pedlars.

Local councillors have voiced their concerns recently that, despite Pembrokeshire County Council introducing more stringent measures to monitor those with street trading licences operating in the same locations in Tenby, many traders continue to block the historic Five Arches by setting up stalls there.

Despite councillors' calls to the county council to have the Five Arches removed as a designated area to trade in, a meeting last week between members of the county council's streetcare department, Tenby Chamber of Trade and Tourism and members of the town council, revealed that two traders had been granted licences to trade there.

However, streetcare officer Mr. Marc Owen explained to those present that, while the hairbraider and the caricaturist had been located in the Five Arches, he pointed out that the pitches were not fixed and the traders were being encouraged to use different locations around the town.

Mr. Owen noted the town council's objections to any trading whatsoever in the Five Arches and pointed out that these were the only two consents he would be issuing within that location.

He said that, despite the licences being issued, there would be a concentrated effort to keep the Arches clear of obstruction.

Mr. Owen told the meeting that following numerous complaints over the years, the county council had looked at the street trading issue in earnest in 2009 and that since then, every street in Pembrokeshire that was an adopted highway, was now classed as a consent street, which would give more control to the county council over what type of activity could be authorised. He also explained that the policy and associated documents were being reviewed as street trading issues progressed.

Discussing the matter at Tuesday night's meeting of Tenby Town Council, Clr. Mike Evans said that they should continue to keep fighting to ensure that the iconic Five Arches should be a trade-free zone.

"This town council needs to stand up and say 'no' in that we don't want to see any form of trading taking place in this historical area which is a prime gate into our town," he remarked, asking for a stern letter on the matter to be written to the chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council and the chairman of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.

"Mr. Owen is an excellent officer and, credit where it's due, he and his team are working really hard on the street trading issues, but setting up in the Five Arches is like trading in Westminster Abbey; it's not he area to allow it," added Clr. Evans.

Clr. Mrs. Julie Evans said that more regulations had to be in place as to where street traders could set up, as it was unfair to the people who pay colossal rates to run a business in the town.

Clr. Mrs. Christine Brown said that the council had fought long and hard to get consent streets in Tenby and she believed certain aspects of street trading enhanced the visitor experience.

Clr. Mrs. Caroline Thomas agreed that a letter should be written to the chairman of the county council with councillors' deep concerns over the trading in the Five Arches.