Plans to improve the condition of Tenby’s historic town walls have been hit due to a lack of funding from Pembrokeshire County Council.

Earlier last year, as well as discussing carrying out work on the walls, Tenby Town Council also set out a list of aims and objectives to take forward in relation to enhancing the town’s Five Arches, which form part of the structure

One of the aims the town council set itself was to look at ways to make the Five Arches a main gateway into the walled town.

However, discussing the matter at a recent meeting of the town council, Clr. Mike Evans, explained that he and fellow county councillor Michael Williams had been on the county council’s budget seminar earlier that day, and it appeared that the authority was in a ‘desperate state of affairs’ which could affect any progress TTC hoped to make in improving the town.

“Whilst the will is there at PCC, there is no capacity or money,” he said.

“We are considering our own Finance committee recommendations on our budget later and if we want our town walls to be a priority, we will have to take it into our own hands,” continued Clr. Evans.

“We will have to give consideration in our budget deliberations that, over the next five years, if we want things done, we a - fund ourselves entirely or, b - look to provide match funding for grant applications.”

The town clerk, Andrew Davies, then referred to the inside of the town walls, with regard to the problem in the Mayor’s parlour, which sits inside the town walls, where it was flagged-up in September that the council chamber was suffering with damp, mould and mildew, and also evidence of some active woodworm infestation in the wooden plinths near the Turret.

Mr. Davies said that since an inspection had been made, nothing had been heard from PCC’s property department surveyor Susie Adams, but that Rob Scourfield building conservation officer for the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority had taken a look and in his view, as there was no direct impact on the town walls because of the internal block walls, it would be in order for the town council to re-board and plaster the area.

The Clerk asked if members wished to proceed as advised by Mr. Scourfield or to continue to wait for advice from Mrs. Adams, and it was resolved by members that the clerk go ahead with making arrangements for the affected area to be re-rendered.