A local councillor has appealed for businesses in Tenby and anyone affected by unauthorised street traders in the town to write to the local authority with their complaints to seek the introduction of a bye law to ban them from the resort.

Pembrokeshire County Council have recently released a consultation seeking the public’s view on its Draft Street Trading Policy, which covers a wide range of retail and catering activities undertaken in public streets.

The content of the document sets out the policy in relation to street trading in Pembrokeshire with its aim to ensure that the street trading function is delivered in accordance with legislative requirements and to ensure the needs of residents, businesses and visitors are met to assist with the regeneration of the County.

Discussing the policy recently, Clr. Laurence Blackhall told his colleagues at Tenby Town Council that, whilst he felt the policy was very good, it did not address the ongoing problems with ‘service providers’ such as tattoo artists and hair braiders etc, that the resort had experienced issues with in recent years, stating that the policy did not really solve the problems, which he felt could only be addressed by the introduction of a bye law.

“Whilst Tenby Town Council could support the vast majority of proposals in the draft policy, the absence of proposals to deal with ‘service provider’ operations on the streets negates much of the good intent of the policy,” said Clr. Blackhall, suggesting that PCC do not adopt it until this is addressed.

Clr. Blackhall and councillors were reminded by the town clerk that street care manager, Marc Owen, had stated previously that the Welsh Government would not consider moving forward with a bye law unless there was substantial evidence that these ‘service providers’ were causing a ‘nuisance’ and a bye law was needed in the public interest, but he had received no such ‘hard evidence’ to date.

“We need businesses and the people of Tenby to write to Pembrokeshire County Council’s chief executive, leader and street care manager to request that action be taken on these so-called ‘service providers’ to stop the problem blighting the town!” stated Clr. Blackhall at Tuesday night’s meeting of the town council.

“People and businesses need to come forward and explain why these tattoo artists and braiders, who put up banners on the Five Arches and other monuments for advertising purposes, block access to shops, obstruct footpaths and pavements, move benches in the town centre, diminish views of the town, are causing significant difficulties in Tenby.

“Until PCC have a bank of complaints against these ‘service providers’ then they are unable to move forward with a bye law to remove them.

“It’s no good moaning about the matter again in October after the summer has been; PCC will only support us with this request to introduce a bye law if the public write letters to complain about the matter to them, and even provide photographic evidence,” he added.

It was also suggested that the town council produce a leaflet informing the public what they need to do to ask for a bye law to be introduced.