Sir,
I've been following the debates and correspondence on Tenby's 'traffic and parking problems' with interest.
For the last nine years I've been driving in and out of Tenby's town centre for family, business and social reasons, at many different times of day. In that time there hasn't been one traffic 'problem' that hasn't sorted itself out within two minutes. Drivers usually realise who has to back up to solve any congestions.
Similarly, when it comes to parking in the harbour area the unspoken rule has been - "if there's space, take it and if there isn't then go somewhere else." If the rule is now to be that if you own a house in the harbour area you have a right to a parking space this seems grossly unfair. As I understand it, non-one has a 'right' to park on the road outside their house. Some of the owners of harbour area houses may be absentee landlords. Why should they be granted parking 'rights' over neighbourhood residents?
I'm very much in agreement with your recent correspondent and think it would be folly to ban traffic from the town centre. I actually think the town needs more traffic, not less. That may seem perverse, but the logic is simple. Everyone seems to agree that Tenby needs visitors. What we need to target are the first-time visitors and provide a welcome mat rather than a gate that says 'shut', or 'entry-fee required'.
Returning visitors know both the attractions of the town and the town centre parking problems - but, crucially, they've come back.
If all we offer first-time visitors is a parking problem and no chance of seeing what the town has to offer, won't that encourage them to spend their money somewhere else? Not much reward to both parties for them making the effort to come and see us, is it?
A couple of years ago I sent the county council a plan for a one-way traffic system, including some pedestrianisation which allowed first-time visitors to get a feel for Tenby before being directed to car parking (which you were kind enough to publish). Naturally, the council ignored it. My big mistake was to put a Tenby address on it, because, as we all know, the best place to view any Tenby traffic or parking problem is from 20 miles away in Haverfordwest.
But, the simple question is, what is the problem? Is it the same problem that thousands of towns in France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Greece et al encounter every summer and say thank you for?
Martin Lamb,
2 Rock House,
St. Julian's Street,
Tenby.