The Mayor of Tenby has expressed her disappointment over the fact that only six members of the public attended a meeting she had arranged to discuss gardening and maintenance issues in the town.

The meeting on Wednesday evening (May 23), had been arranged to look at ways the town could help maintain the standards expected of the popular seaside resort in the face of continued budget cuts by Pembrokeshire County Council.

“Many people think that Tenby Town Council is responsible for grounds maintenance and street cleaning,’ explained the Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Sue Lane.

“This is not the case, it is the responsibility of Pembrokeshire County Council and, sadly, as these are not statutory services, these budgets are the ones that have been subjected to the deepest cuts.”

Clr. Mrs. Lane said that she had called the meeting to look at ways local people and organisations could join forces with the Town Council and Tenby in Bloom to work with the County Council to offset these cuts.

“Unfortunately, the number of people who turned up were outnumbered by council representatives!” remarked Clr. Mrs. Lane following the meeting.

“These people are already helping us in their own small way, weeding and little picking, so we were preaching to the converted as they say.

“It was very disappointing considering how vocal about the town so many people are on social media.

“We all know there are problems, we hoped they would come forward and help to be part of the solution,” she continued.

Clr. Mrs. Lane said that the town council were already providing some financial assistance for purchase of bedding plants and additional watering but were looking for solutions that did not require further hikes in local council tax.

“Town councillors are not paid,’ Clr. Mrs Lane stated. “We volunteer our free time for the benefit of the town too and have even rejected the Wales Remuneration Panel’s suggestion that we each be given £150 a year.

“We know people are being squeezed financially and we don’t want to increase that burden so more help is needed.”

Undeterred by the poor turn out, those present at the public meeting agreed to establish a new ‘Tenby Town Team’ to meet monthly to look at ways of tackling ‘cleaning and greening issues.

“The county council said that they will try and do their best with the resources they have, but sadly we could be looking at what they term ‘managed decline’.

“That is just not good enough for Tenby but unless people come forward, that is what we may be facing!” added Clr. Mrs. Lane.