Tenby Town Council have decided not to offer financial support to the town's forthcoming Winter Carnival, feeling they already have considerable financial outlay in funding the town's festive lighting displays.

Before members at their meeting on Tuesday night was a request from Elaine Rowe and Ann Rowell, who are organising the carnival on December 7 on behalf of the Chamber of Trade and Tourism.

They explained that the carnival incurred costs in providing insurance, transportation for Santa, trophies, certificates, sound systems, the band, First Aid cover and prize money.

In the past, the chamber had to rely on donations from local businesses and wondered if the town council could make a contribution this year.

Deputy Mayor, Clr. Andrew Rees, pointed out that the town council already provided the town's festive lighting displays, which went some way to enhancing the carnival.

Clr. Mrs. Caroline Thomas explained that the carnival was going to be more expensive for the chamber to stage this year as they were offering cash prizes in the float categories, but Clr. Mickey Folland pointed out that the council were "already making a very generous contribution in providing the festive lights for the town."

The Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Christine Brown, agreed.

"Erecting the lights costs us £10,000 per year, in addition to on-going maintenance costs," she said. "This year again we have to replace lights, which means more costs to us, and we ourselves have to try and seek extra funding for that so as not to overburden the precept.

"We agreed to take over the lights from the Chamber of Trade and Tourism to make it easier for them to fund events like the carnival," she added.

"We set aside a healthy contribution from our precept for our Christmas lights," commented Clr. Folland. "It is the domestic ratepayers who are paying for that, not the commercial ones."

"While the chamber, and in particular these two ladies, do a fantastic job in organising the carnival, we do put a lot of money into the Christmas lights and, regretfully, I do not think we can agree to this request."