Sir,

Re. Spin on the pedestrianisation of Tenby.

I have read with interest over the last few weeks about the 'success' enjoyed by the Café Culture day, and the spin on the event that reads like a politician's forecast of a one horse race. There was so much hype and taxpayers' money and 2020's reputation invested in the occasion, it had to be a triumph, and all the newsprint leads one to that conclusion; the truth is a little different for those who were there.

From 9 am opening time until 11 am it was a good trading day; then the roads were closed off and the flow of people dried up to a trickle because, as all of the traders in the town are aware, when it rains the public are reluctant to walk into the town centre.

Pedestrianisation will only compound the problem as this and other dry modes of transport will be banned, resulting in a massive downturn in trade for those in the heart of the 'Jewel in the Crown' of the Pembrokeshire National Park.

Pembrokeshire weather is known to be fickle, and so it was on the day and the people dispersed into various outlets when the weather turned nasty.

The 'Taste of Wales' vehicle managed a good turnout with at least 50 people attending their food demonstrations, but the largest crowd, a 'huge' number of around 70, gathered around the fire-juggler at the end of the day.

As a retailer in Tudor Square, I asked those attending how would they feel if the area within the walls of Tenby became a pedestrian only zone? Many said just the thought of having to talk from a distant car park into town regular in the rain is off-putting and if vehicle access is to be denied permanently they would regretfully have to make their day out in Saundersfoot or other easy to access towns instead.

As the day progressed, the crowds did not return in the same numbers, and of my regular shoppers, very few appeared and left quickly saying they had to park in time restricted areas and couldn't stop. This resulted in a loss of sales for me and other retailers, who were not involved in food.

There was so much spin put on this event, it was hardly recognisable as the day I experienced, and the constant harping on about the traders being to blame for no stallholders is a blatant misdirection. It is the town's traders who have to make a living here, pay the rates to have the streets cleaned and maintained and have to abide by the legislation to keep the pavement clear or face fines, but at the drop of a 'spinning' hat all this can be thrust aside, like the opinions of those working in the area, for a day of propaganda that cuts into our returns, by people who have no financial interest or business within the town walls.

In the last few years, various vehicle bans have been tried: once at Easter and once a summer permit scheme was attempted - both were disasters for the majority of businesses within the prohibited area. In addition to the town's traders' problems, outside traders - like window-cleaners, aerial riggers, TV repairs, armoured vehicles, etc. - were also caught up in the ban and unable to do business within the town walls. You can surmise, the scheme was not popular, cost a lot of people a lot of money and did not survive the test. Why the proposal has reared its ugly head again I cannot fathom, but it appears to be propelled by a few individuals with the sole intention of turning Tenby into a ghost town.

Why spoil something that already works as well as Tenby does? It has taken years of natural evolution to arrive at the balance that the visitors, residents and traders have achieved to date. Don't tip the balance just for the spin of so-called progress.

Nigel A. Chapple,

The Dainty,

York House,

Tudor Square,

Tenby.