Tenby councillors want to make next year's Winter Parade in the town a bigger event, with a return to a full festive lights switch-on and a day-long programme of activities to coincide.

Last Friday saw the De Valence Trust-organised Winter Parade take place with the involvement of around 80 school children, their parents, teachers and De Valence volunteers, plus members of Tenby and Saundersfoot Lions, along with the Santa Sleigh and marshals.

However, two business owners in the town who had invested in snow machines for the event were left unhappy that the route of the parade did not see the procession plan to travel past their properties

Mrs. Lesley Fisher, of Tenby House Hotel in Tudor Square, and Charles Fecci, of Fecci's Chip Shop in Lower Frog Street, both contacted the town council to express their disappointment that the organisers had changed the route, with Mr. Fecci, who also contacted the De Valence on the morning of the event, feeling that the parade needed to cover all areas of the town, as it should involve everyone in the community.

At Tuesday night's meeting of the town council, members discussed the potential of the Winter Parade, with the town clerk reading out correspondence from the De Valence's director, Mrs. Victoria Smathers, on the day's activities.

"This year was the opportunity to rethink the festival to try to get more of the community on board, so I spoke to the local schools who wanted to get involved, but trying to organise something for a Saturday wasn't easy for them, so with the potential of 500 children and their parents taking part in parade, it was an opportunity not to be missed," wrote Mrs. Smathers.

"I believe a Friday, or week day, still has the potential to work next year with school involvement and would be happy to look at the route and planning as a whole if more businesses and the community were happy to get involved.

"We did send letters out to businesses to support the festival and asked for anyone interested in taking part to let us know. Had I known some businesses were planning snow machines etc., I would have been able to talk to them and incorporate that into the plan.

"Critical feedback after an event is useful, but input prior to an event is far more positive to have a real impact on making an event successful," continued Mrs. Smathers, stating that she would like to push for a much bigger event next year, and maybe a Victorian night like other towns.

She also hoped that other organisations in the town, like the Chamber of Trade and Tourism, the Lions, Round Table, Inner Wheel, the Rotary, and town council, could have more of an active role in the event.

Deputy Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Julie Evans, said that the town council would look to get involved more with next year's Winter Parade and look to work alongside the organisers. She suggested that other organisations could be encouraged to be involved in the event and possibly look to a return to a full day of fun and games to coincide with the parade and also include a proper switch-on of the Christmas lights.