Proposals to enhance a Tenby play park has split opinions amongst local councillors.

An idea to look into the possibility of refurbishing the play area at Heywood Court was mooted recently by Clr. Mike Evans, who suggested that the town council should be looking into Capital Expense Play Programmes, and funding projects like this for areas of the town where there was need and support for.

Letters were then hand delivered to all 88 houses at the estate asking the residents for their views, with the town council awaiting responses to the consultation.

However, after Clr. Mrs. Christine Brown suggested at a recent meeting that perhaps the estate would be better served if the play park site was converted into a car parking area, residents responded by forming the Heywood Court Community Park Facebook group, to object to such a proposal, and have petitioned the town council to ensure that the play park remains on the estate.

“There was a bit of confusion based on comments made at the last meeting that the site was going to be turned into a car park, but I clarified the issue through the town council’s and Heywood Court group’s Facebook pages,” explained town clerk Andrew Davies at Wednesday night’s meeting of the town council.

“County Councillor Mike Evans is still hoping to take the proposals forward and is due to meet with fellow Tenby County Councillor Michael Williams on site to discuss the idea,” he continued.

Clr. Mrs. Brown responded to the matter and told her fellow councillors that she was not trying to stand in the way of the proposals, but she believed that the cost of enhancing the play park, was too much for the town council to take on at this point.

“I’m not trying to stop this project, but when I do the maths on what the cost of the Jubilee Play Park ended up costing this council, with the enhancement of the toddler area and skate park, it would cost in the region of £30-40,000 to enhance the Heywood Court play area,” she stated.

“The Jubilee worked out at about £2,500 to maintain per year, and I don’t think the town council can justify that again at this point.

“Everybody else in the area would want their play area upgraded too if we took this on.

“If Pembrokeshire County Council just choose to let the play area rundown then that’s their responsibility,” added Clr. Mrs. Brown.

Mayor Clr. Paul Rapi said that perhaps the town’s county councillors could convince PCC to fund such a project, rather than just putting all it’s problems onto town and community councils.

Town councillors said that they would await to see the outcome of the on site meeting between Clr. Evans and Clr. Williams, before bringing the matter back to the table.