Councillors in Tenby have been asked to address ongoing issues of pedestrians hogging the roadways in the centre of the Walled Town, well before Pembrokeshire County Council’s summer ‘traffic free’ scheme starts, which has led to many motorists trying to manoeuvre their way through the streets, being abused.

In correspondence that went before this month’s meeting of Tenby Town Council, one complainant stated: “I am not sure if you have other complaints or concerns about the number of visitors who continually walk on the roads throughout the town.

“They obviously think the whole town is pedestrianised but we are a working town. I consider myself to be a very considerate driver going through town, allowing people to pass before me and going slowly but I think all of us drivers are subject to regular abuse from the pedestrians.

“Would it be possible for the Town Council to consider putting up Live Carriageway signs outside of the Pedestrianisation scheme for future years,” they added.

Responding, Cllr Sam Skyrme-Blackhall stated: “This is a matter for Pembrokeshire County Council. It is a long-standing issue and does cross over with some of the matters raised with Marc Owen [Public Realm Manager at Pembrokeshire County Council].

“The town is not so seasonal anymore. We are getting increased footfall earlier and earlier. The fact that we still have a live carriageway in the town centre at these times needs to be addressed,” she remarked.

Cllr Laurence Blackhall added: “The correspondent was quite right to raise this. This is a genuine issue and needs a response”

The annual Tenby Pedestrianisation scheme will run from Monday, July 7 to Friday, September 12, and operate between 11am and 5.30pm each day.

Full details of the scheme and the online access permit application form are available at https://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/tenby-pedestrianisation

“Residents and business within the Walled Town are encouraged to complete the application process as soon as possible,” said a spokesperson for Pembrokeshire County Council.

At a recent Town Council meeting, members bemoaned accessibility issues around Tenby for those with mobility needs and families with pushchairs, with calls for Pembrokeshire County Council to finally clampdown on ‘out of control’ obstructions such as A-Boards blocking the seaside town’s pavements and walkways.

At May’s meeting of Tenby Town Council, Cllr Laurence Blackhall told members that this was an ‘age-old frustration’.

“Historically focus has been within the town walls but there are wider issues across town,” he said.

“There has been a massive increase in scaffolding, whilst we have also have the age-old problem of A-Boards, where, in some parts of town, things are out of control and you can hardly move for them!

“At times, on busy weekends, the sheer volume of people makes it very difficult to move around town safely and it would be interesting to have Pembrokeshire County Council’s view.

“It would be interesting to discuss with them how many parking spaces are given over to disabled parking; how much ramping there is to get on and off pavements during pedestrianisation; how people navigate the scaffolding etc.”

He proposed that the council write to PCC asking, from an access point of view, what accessibility issues they perceived around town.

He suggested that this could be followed up with later with a presentation on what the Local Authority intends on doing about the issue.

Cllr Sam Skyrme-Blackhall said that she’s held a meeting with PCC a couple of years ago about A-Boards - but nothing has been done.

“We are going round in circles and it is not fair,” she stated.

“Pedestrianisation is a while off yet, and we already have a huge footfall. There is no need for all these A-Boards. There should be one flush to the wall per business but every year we see more and more.

“Pavements are not available for walking on and we have an ageing population who do not want to come into town because they are scared of being knocked over,” she added.

Cllr Blackhall continued: “It would be good to have PCC’s assessment of what they believe are the problems and challenges are.

“We understand that we are a medieval town with narrow streets. That is part of our charm and beauty but we could be better at getting people around the town.

“There is also a connectivity issue between different parts of town. If you are on the Esplanade, you are virtually cut off from St Florence Parade if you are in a wheelchair.”