Tenby town council are to hold an engagement meeting with market traders next week to look at possible opportunities that could be provided through a ‘Community Asset Transfer’ of the building, and making the market more profitable as a benefit to the town.

Discussions back in December amongst councillors suggested that the town council set up a working party to offer consideration to a ‘Community Asset Transfer’ of the resort’s high street market from Pembrokeshire County Council to the town council, with Clr. Mike Evans stating that everyone was aware of the market and its importance to Tenby, but there were, he felt, opportunities for the town council to look at to make it even better.

Clr. Evans explained that the ‘Freeholders’ of the site are PCC, but unfortunately they are unable to access certain grants that the town council can.

He said that the running of markets was a discretionary service and historically PCC have operated four in the county, but questions were being asked as to why do the county council run them when private enterprises could?

Clr. Evans said 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. That was not to say that PCC have been poor but simply saying that a ‘local eye’ could be more proactive

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.

During further discussions last month, Clr. Mrs. Tish Rossiter told her fellow councillors that she felt that they would be taking on a massive obligation if they transferred the market to the town council, and was concerned that it could become a ‘bottomless pit’ that the town council would end up throwing money at.

Clr. Evans told members that this was not what was being proposed. He felt what was being asked was that the town council communicate with PCC to see what their intentions are and to work with them, to continue to make the market a valuable asset to Tenby.

He said that historically the town council were involved in the running of the market and it is integral to the future of Tenby.

He added that the town council should keep all avenues open and look at things with an open mind, stressing that any project would need to be fully costed first to see how it could be beneficial to Tenby.

The engagement meeting with Tenby Market Traders is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, February 23.