Tenby’s longstanding flooding issue on the B4318 at Gumfreston, connecting the seaside town to St Florence and Carew, and routes beyond, leading to Pembroke, has been raised at the Senedd.

Senedd Member for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, Samuel Kurtz spoke about the issues at Welsh Parliament on Tuesday (January 27).

“Yet again we had some heavy rain last night, and yet again the Gumfreston road flooded,” he said.

“The local hard working county councillor Rhys Jordan, has pushed Pembrokeshire County Council for action, but has come up against a brick wall.

“It’s become such an issue, that a local resident have even designed their own web app called ‘Is Gumfreston flooded?’

“That’s becoming an issue, as this is one of the main routes into Tenby, stopping people coming in.

“What Cllr Rhys Jordan is calling for, is a multi-agency approach, to tackle this once and for all. It’s becoming a real problem, and it’s only getting worse.”

The people of Pembrokeshire and further afield are being urged to sign a petition to get a flooding hotspot on a main route in and out of Tenby debated by Welsh Government at the Senedd. 10,000 signatures are needed for action to be taken, but with a deadline of January 31, as it stands, just over 3,000 people have signed the petition.

Although the road is maintained by Pembrokeshire County Council, flooding is caused by surface water runoff, high River Ritec levels, and tidal locking at the South Beach outfall during high tides.

These combined factors mean local highway measures alone cannot resolve the problem.

County councillor for the wards of Gumfreston and St Florence, Cllr Rhys Jordan has long shared his frustrations over the situation, and has now created a petition to the Welsh Government because repeated flooding on the B4318 can no longer be resolved through local routes alone.

“We’ll all be aware that this road floods regularly, we’ve had issues with signs that don’t work, signs that only come on when it’s not flooded, and ones that don’t work when it is flooded,” remarked Cllr Jordan.

“The reality is, I’ve done all I can at county level, we need more money, that money isn’t going to come from County Hall [home of Pembrokeshire County Council] , it needs to come from Welsh Government.

“What I’d like to see is a multi-agency approach, to address this problem, once and for all.

He continued:“As your councillor, I’ve raised this issue through every available local option, and those avenues have now been exhausted.

“The causes of flooding go beyond the road itself, which is why national leadership and funding are now needed to look at a long-term solution,” remarked Cllr Jordan.

“Petitions don’t always succeed, but when enough people get behind them, they can make a real difference. Just look at what happened at Nash Finger Post.

The petition to the Welsh Government calling for a long-term solution to flooding on the B4318 is live until January 31.

Petitions with more than 10,000 signatures will be considered for a debate in the Senedd.

Cllr Jordan continued:“Our goal: 10,000 signatures by January 31, 2026

“That number matters. Strong petitions do lead to action, just look at what happened at Nash Finger Post when enough people got behind it.If you’ve been affected as a resident, business owner, commuter, or visitor — please take 30 seconds to sign and share.

“Every signature strengthens the case and increases the pressure for action.

“This is about protecting access to Tenby and securing a solution that lasts,” he added.

Senedd Member Mr Kurtz also urged the public to sign the petition, stating: “If 10,000 people sign it, then it will have to be debated on the floor of the Senedd chamber; and the Welsh Government will have to respond.

“Please sign it, and show your support for the work that Rhys is doing and the wider community, to ensure that Tenby ceases to be cut off when this road is flooded.”

Mr Kurtz has also written to the Chair of the Petitions Committee, urging committee members to visit the site to see the scale of the problem first-hand.

With the petition deadline fast approaching on 31 January, residents are calling on the relevant authorities to take decisive action to address the root causes of the flooding and prevent further closures of this important stretch of road.

Speaking outside the Chamber, Mr Kurtz added:“Like clockwork, whenever there is heavy rain this road floods, and despite the best efforts of the hardworking local county councillor, Rhys Jordan, it is clear that Pembrokeshire County Council cannot resolve this issue alone.

“That is why it was right to raise this matter in the Senedd and demand action. Too often, this flooding causes serious problems for local residents and emergency services alike. The situation has become so severe that a local resident has even developed a web app to keep people informed about whether the road is passable.

“I urge everyone to sign this petition. Until a proper solution is found, the situation will only deteriorate. I will continue to press the Welsh Government to act, and I thank Councillor Jordan and the wider community for rallying together behind this campaign.”

You can sign the petition here: https://petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/246816

Recently, a Tenby town councillor slammed Pembrokeshire County Council for failing to tackle the persistent flooding effectively - suggesting that they would rather squander their millions on building pointless footbridges in Haverfordwest!

With motorists attempting to drive through the flood water being labelled ‘stupid’ on social media - town councillor Charles Dale took a pop at the Local Authority for its own ‘stupidity’ in continuing to not rectify the issue with a long term solution.

Cllr Dale commented: “Stupidity is Pembrokeshire County Council allowing this to happen to the residents of Tenby every year - and it’s getting worse!”