Tenby is in desperate need of extra attractions during the winter period to encourage people into the town, a local councillor has stated this week.

Speaking at Tuesday night’s meeting of the town council, Clr. Mrs. Christine Brown told her colleagues that she would like to see Tenby Chamber of Trade and Tourism consider introducing a Christmas market again to the centre of the town.

“There was a small market outside Sainsbury’s over the Christmas period put on by one of the local businesses, which featured a choir. It was brilliant and did the town good, but later I saw many negative comments on social media, asking ‘why isn’t the town council allowing a Christmas market?’ - well we weren’t the ones that stopped it!” she commented.

“I would support anyone that put on a market, especially over the festive and summer periods.

“The town had one Saturday over Christmas when the lights were switched on and we held a Santa’s Grotto at the De Valence, but apart from the New Year’s Eve celebrations in the town, there seemed to be nothing else to attract people in over the Christmas period,” continued Clr. Mrs. Brown.

“Street markets would encourage people in to town, so I think the Chamber of Trade really needs a rethink, as a regular market would encourage people regularly into the town.

“It would be great if we could put the feelers out to the shops and businesses, if they feel there is a need for a regular market, I think there is,” she added.

Deputy Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Sue Lane said that she felt that the markets didn’t work previously because the formats were not adhered to.

“If they just stuck to local crafts and produce it would be fine, but we had all sorts being sold before from toys to pizzas and pancakes, even coffee being sold outside other coffee shops and cafes!

“People with businesses in the centre of Tenby are paying rates, so these markets would have to be strictly regulated. They should be there to help the town, not take away from businesses that are struggling,” continued Clr. Mrs. Lane.

“The other problem is that they’d attract more hairbraiders and tattooists, and the markets would probably get lost like before,” she added.

Clr. Will Rossiter agreed that something more was needed to attract people into town over the festive period.

“There were very few people about the week before Christmas, so I don’t even know if you’d attract people here to open a market stall!” he remarked.

The Mayor, Clr. Laurence Blackhall said that conversations need to take place between the town council and the Chamber of Trade regarding street markets again.

Meanwhile, Clr. Mrs. Lane praised the New Year’s Eve celebrations in Tudor Square once again.

“It was a tremendous event. My daughter posted a 30 second video taken from the balcony of Tenby House Hotel of the revellers in the square at midnight, and it has had 38,000 views already, and lots of positive comments about the town,” she told her colleagues.

“I’ll echo those thoughts, it was an excellent event, and thanks must be given to the police and to Tenby House Hotel for their efforts that night,” said Clr. Blackhall.

“The Boxing Day Swim also created a fabulous atmosphere around the town once again and raised loads of money for various charities, and it was a fabulous Christmas and New Year for Tenby,” he added.