Tenby councillors have asked for clarity on the rundown area overlooking North Beach that was once home to an amusement arcade, after concerns were raised that Pembrokeshire County Council were considering closing off the area.

Plans to spruce-up the ‘dead space’ started to take shape some time ago, when Greenhill School pupils began a project to bring the area - which overlooks the seaside town’s picturesque harbour - back to life, with colourful artwork and a special seaside mural.

Looking at the area now, which leads down to the North Walk, it’s hard to believe that it was once home to a seaside amusement arcade discreetly hidden behind the walkways up the cliffs, up until the late 90s, when it was most recently know as ‘Ocean Leisure’.

Looking at the area now, which leads down to the North Walk, it’s hard to believe that it was once home to a seaside amusement arcade discreetly hidden behind the walkways up the cliffs, up until the late 90s, when it was most recently know as ‘Ocean Leisure’.
Looking at the area now, which leads down to the North Walk, it’s hard to believe that it was once home to a seaside amusement arcade discreetly hidden behind the walkways up the cliffs, up until the late 90s, when it was most recently know as ‘Ocean Leisure’. (Observer pic)

A start to spruce-up the area began some two years ago, when an enthusiastic group of Duke of Edinburgh candidates from Tenby’s Secondary School came down and did a brilliant job litter picking and scrubbing the floors and walls of the space ready for the mural to be created.

Tenby’s community engagement officer Anne Draper, and Tom Moses of the CWBR Youth project (PLANED) were also involved, with the group from Ysgol Greenhill accompanied by youth workers Leah Walker, Chloe Lewis and Miss Fay John (SWEET teacher).

But with the project put on hold for some time, questions were raised after it was reported that the Local Authority may have other plans for the spot.

At Tenby Town Council’s most recent meeting, Cllr Skyrme-Blackhall noted that students were planning to start work again on the area at the end of June, but noted that she was concerned as, when she had last spoken to PCC officers, they had indicated that they were considering closing the whole area off.

The Town Clerk Andrew Davies told the Observer: “We're still liaising with Pembrokeshire County Council.”

The plan was to make the area a space where activities could be held, that encourage children and their families to interact with each other, so one possibility suggested was to have a picnic table with images of things that could be found around the beach on it so it could be used for a scavenge hunt.

Another was to have a small rowing boat fixed there as a seat for small children with images on it designed to spark their imagination and encourage storytelling.

Tenby old arcade
The former amusement arcade 'Ocean Leisure' (Pic. Amy Reece)

With the initiative titled the ‘Urban Thinkscape’ project, the first stage was aimed at making it a much nicer place with a coastal theme, which people would be able to use for a picnic when it rains, or just as a sheltered meeting point.

Back when the project just started to unfold, community engagement officer Anne explained: “The intention is also to create an area towards the back of the space for teenagers with a graffiti wall, and maybe some seating.

“It is also hoped to put in a fishing net along the gap between the space and the bank to discourage littering,” she added.