Councillors in Tenby are looking to meet with traders at the town’s market hall to discuss opportunities that could be provided through the possibility of a ‘Community Asset Transfer’ of the building from Pembrokeshire County Council to the town council.

At a recent meeting of Tenby Town Council, members agreed to set set up a working party to look at opportunities that could be provided through a ‘Community Asset Transfer’ of the resort’s high street market

Clr. Mike Evans told his fellow members that everyone on the town council were all aware of the market and its importance to Tenby, but there were, he felt, opportunities for them to look at to make it even better and more profitable.

He explained that he was not advocating the market be taken over by the private sector but believed that the town council could look at the building and have a better vision for Tenby.

Clr. Evans went onto say that he felt that the market could be a key driver within community and, if the town council worked with PCC, they could access funding to make it a stronger more viable part of Tenby thereby giving more security for tenants there.

The town clerk sent correspondence with the town council’s suggestion to PCC, and it was noted by the authority that they do not normally consider community asset transfer revenue generating assets as a policy, but PCC’s chief property officer Ms. Helen McLeod-Baikie would have a discussion with the relevant cabinet member and director to ascertain whether it could be an option to consider.

If given the ‘green light’ an Expression of Interest form would need to be submitted, and the town clerk recommended setting up a working party to complete this.

Clr. Laurence Blackhall said that the town council would be keen to carry on this discussion with PCC, but it was about forming a ‘working partnership’.

“We’ve had this conversation with PCC from the start, and we cannot be in a position where only items they are prepared to discuss will be ones that cost us money,” he told his colleagues.

“We are not going to invest as a partnership in things that are losing money. This is part of the reason that no asset transfer took place in the past, no community can take on assets that are losing money.

“This money will be reinvested in Tenby and this needs to be made clear in any discussions about asset transfer,” he added.

At the town council’s first remote meeting of 2021 on Tuesday night, members agreed to move forward with an ‘exploratory meeting’ with Tenby market traders to glean their views on Clr. Evans’ proposal that consideration be given to a ‘community asset transfer’ of the market from PCC.