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, only 2,396 have signed the petition.

The B4318 at Gumfreston, connecting Tenby to St Florence and Carew, and routes beyond, leading to Pembroke, floods repeatedly, cutting off a key access route to Tenby.

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.

Despite ‘immediate action’ being called for once again a year ago; December 1, 2024 and the B4318 road by Gumfreston was declared impassable once again due to flooding.
The B4318 road by Gumfreston is often declared impassable due to flooding. (Stock image)

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

Senedd Member for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, Samuel 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.”

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!”